YELLOWKNIFE (June 3, 2015) – The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs is now accepting applications for the 2015-2016 Northwest Territories (NWT) Youth Ambassador Program. The program provides NWT youth with opportunities to build leadership skills through participation at special events and volunteer assignments.  In the past, NWT Youth Ambassadors have attended the Arctic Winter Games, Canada Winter Games, Canada Summer Games and the North American Indigenous Games. 

“Participants in the NWT Youth Ambassador Program get to build skills and confidence through coordinated volunteer experience,” said Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs and Minister Responsible for Youth Robert C. McLeod. “Providing youth with development opportunities is important for developing the leaders of tomorrow.  I encourage all NWT youth who meet the criteria to apply to be ambassadors and represent their community and the NWT.” 

Applicants are selected based on community involvement, commitment to a healthy lifestyle and a personal reflection on how the Youth Ambassador Program will help them in the future.  To qualify for the program, youth must be between 16 and 24 years of age on December 31, 2015. The deadline to apply is September 25, 2015.  All NWT youth who qualify are encouraged to apply. 

The Youth Ambassador Program is part of the Government of the Northwest Territories’ Healthy Choice Framework and is working to maximize opportunities for NWT residents by helping young people improve their skills and make healthy choices.  Providing youth with development opportunities will create healthy, educated residents as outlined in the 17th Assembly’s vision of Believing in People and Building on the Strengths of Northerners. 

For more information on the Youth Ambassador Program, to apply online, or to download an application form, please visit www.nwtyouth.com.   

To submit a verbal application over the phone, please contact Dawn Moses, Youth/Volunteer Officer, at (867) 873-7329 or by email at dawn_moses@gov.nt.ca.   

Media inquiries:
David Maguire
Communications and Website Advisor
Municipal and Community Affairs
Government of the Northwest Territories
Tel: (867) 920-3092
Email: david_maguire@gov.nt.ca