Three Years, One Journey: How YLTP Shapes Young Leaders 

Each year, the Youth Leadership Training Program (YLTP) brings together youth from across the diocese for a transformative four-day residential experience focused on leadership development, community building, and faith formation. Set against the beautiful backdrop of Canterbury Hills Camp, participants explore their faith, discover their gifts, and learn to lead with courage, compassion, and confidence.

This year, the program was facilitated by Donna Ellis with the support of Synod staff Hannah Keller, NSML coordinator & governance administrator, Emily Hill, parish development missioner, and Kristen Jackson-Dockeray, the new diocesan children, youth, and family missional coordinator. With 18 youth in attendance this year, the team was also supported by an army of volunteers and speakers providing the youth with leadership skills, spiritual practices, and worship experiences. 

Youth explored, with David Anderson, the YLTP chaplain, “The Overarching Story of God,” which framed the entire YLTP experience. It breaks down the Bible into 5 “chapters”: Creation, Fracture/Fall, Israel/People of God, Jesus/The Church, and New Creation/The Story Yet to Come.  

Participants heard from alumni Paige Keller, who spoke about the governance structure of the Anglican church, her experiences as a youth delegate at the Provincial Synod, and her role with the Council of General Synod.

The youth participated in the high ropes with Adventureworks, heard from Alyssa Zilney, program manager for Act 5, a Hamilton-based Christian community for young adults, and explored Wild Church with Rebecca Vendetti, licensed lay missioner at St. James in Dundas. They spent time on an outdoor prayer walk with Sharon Miller, camp director for Canterbury Hills and a workshop with Adedayo Olomodosi, who used a familiar pop-culture context to share similarities between Jesus & superheros and how we can be our own heroes as Christians.   

Bishop Susan also joined them on Tuesday for a time of prayer, reflection and questions. It was a deep and meaningful conversation about leadership and hope in a fractured world, and a discussion about the global Church. Bishop Susan encouraged youth to step into the ministries they feel called to and not to take no for an answer. 

Throughout the next two editions of the Niagara Anglican, we will share the stories of YLTP from the perspectives of some third-year youth as they reflect on their final year and look forward to their futures in faithful leadership roles. 

Learning to Lead, Growing in Faith 

By Elena Costa
Hello everyone, my name is Elena and I have recently completed my third year in the YLTP program. This year, my group had the pleasure of planning and running a social for participants to enjoy, as well as our week-ending Eucharist. Some meaningful moments from this year for me would have to be our Eucharist, both social events and our prayer hike. We were fortunate to go on a hike as a group and see some great views.  

As I completed each year, I was always excited to come back and see our amazing leaders as well as the best friends I made while at camp. It never mattered what year group everyone was in because we all got along and made friends with each other. As I went year to year, I learned new ways to be a helpful team player as well as lead groups through activities and struggles. I use these skills in my daily life at school for group work and leading school activities.  

As I have left YLTP, I hope to carry these skills with me for the rest of my life. I hope I can bring these wonderful leadership skills into my future career. I hope to keep the amazing friendships I’ve made for many years to come.  

Leading with Faith, Shaped by Community
By John Mous
This March Break, I continued YLTP, the incredible program the diocese offers as a Year 3. This year, I had so much fun planning socials, campfires, and, of course, the ending Eucharist. As a Year 3, you get to plan so much more, and it highlights how much you’ve grown over the 3-year program. We also had so many great workshops, where we learned about different prayers, how the church is run, and how to connect with God through nature. Looking back to Year 1, I’m so grateful for the YLTP program and how much it’s improved my leadership and faith.  

One of the most meaningful moments I had this year was us all bonding around the campfire, surrounded by a peaceful night. We were roasting marshmallows, and I was chatting with Donna Ellis (coordinator for YLTP). As I looked up to the beautiful starry sky, I felt so close to God, surrounded by a wonderful Anglican community. 

Overall, I’d say my favourite moment was in Year 1 when we did a quiet prayer activity at night, with many stations around the camp. It was so peaceful, and it sparked my faith in a way it hadn’t ignited before. 

Every year, I wanted to come back because of what an opportunity it is to form forever friends and a beautiful, close-knit community. Of course, we also learn so much and grow our faith, but the community for me is one of the best takeaways from YLTP. 

So many of the learnings from YLTP I brought into my everyday life. From the experience in planning activities to the stunning prayers Bishop Susan gave us, so many things from YLTP are applicable to everyday life. For me, I think communication and collaboration skills were the main skills I used from YLTP. Working in groups is not always easy to do, but every year I have gotten better at it and apply those skills to group projects, extracurriculars, or volunteering. 

YLTP inspired me to take leadership in my school as well. I’m currently one of two Student Senators for my school, where we meet bimonthly to bring forward the concerns of the student body to the board level. Without the experience from YLTP, I don’t know if I would have applied, let alone gotten the role. 

I hope the way my faith blossomed each year in YLTP stays with me forever. I’m sure everyone says this, but it truly is a fantastic program. Every day you enhance your faith in a way you might not experience in everyday life, and I could feel it growing each year. I also hope the bonds I formed with people stay with me. Not just with my fellow participants, but also my bonds with the incredible volunteers, like Donna, Steff, Nesta, and so many more. Hopefully, we will reunite in the future, and even if we don’t have a planned reunion, I know our paths will cross. God works in mysterious ways after all.