High School
Program
A semester-based innovation and leadership initiative designed to empower students to create meaningful, community-focused solutions to real-world challenges.
About the Program
Since Winter 2020, the program has operated every Fall, Winter, and Spring semester, building a growing community of student leaders, innovators, and changemakers across disciplines.
The program brings together interdisciplinary student teams to collaborate on impactful projects under the mentorship of industry professionals, academics, and public leaders. Each semester, approximately 20 teams of 4–6 students work together to develop projects that address pressing societal issues while gaining hands-on experience in leadership, strategy, communication, and innovation.
Throughout the program, students receive mentorship, professional development opportunities, and practical experience working within structured project teams. One full CYC term is equivalent to 20 community involvement hours, and meets eligibility requirements from the Ontario Ministry of Education.
Team Structure
Every team is led by a Team Lead— a returning alumnus of the CYC program who takes on a larger mentorship and leadership role. In addition, each team designates three specialized "captains" responsible for overseeing the program's three core pillars: STEM, Marketing, and Business. Other team members contribute as assistants or officers.
Three Core Pillars
Every CYC project is built upon three interdisciplinary pillars, encouraging students to consider how projects can be realistically developed, communicated, and sustained.
STEM
Strategy & Innovation
Focused on technical development, research, problem-solving, and implementation strategy.
Marketing
Promotion & Outreach
Focused on communications, branding, awareness campaigns, and audience engagement.
Business
Financing & Feasibility
Focused on budgeting, sustainability, operational planning, and real-world feasibility.
How a Semester Works
Each semester follows a structured progression designed to take you from an idea to a fully realized, competition-ready project.
Onboarding & Team Formation
Students are assigned to interdisciplinary teams of 4–6, matched with a Team Lead and their three pillar captains.
Bi-Weekly Sessions & Mentorship
Every two weeks, teams meet for mentorship sessions with industry professionals, receiving guidance and feedback on their projects.
Project Development
Teams develop their community-focused projects across the three core pillars — STEM, Marketing, and Business.
Final Competition
At the end of the semester, all teams present their work to a panel of professional judges in an in-person showcase.
Recognition & Next Steps
Top three teams receive awards. High performers are invited to return as Team Leads and eventually Program Executives.
Project Focus Areas
All projects developed within the CYC program must address at least one of the following focus areas. Projects are designed not only to propose innovative ideas, but also to create practical, scalable, and socially impactful solutions.
Mentorship
Students participate in bi-weekly mentorship sessions with accomplished professionals from a wide range of industries and disciplines. These sessions provide guidance, feedback, networking opportunities, and exposure to real-world leadership and innovation.
Past mentors and speakers include:
- Hugh LiuAerospace Professor at the University of Toronto
- Tim HodgsonFederal Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, former CEO of Goldman Sachs Canada
- Tim KwanChair of the Mon Sheong Foundation
- Glenn RoweProfessor at the Ivey Business School
- Minh TranLeader at Deloitte
Leadership Pathway & Internships
The CYC program is designed to provide students with long-term leadership and professional development opportunities beyond a single semester.
Participants who demonstrate strong leadership and initiative may return in future semesters as Team Leads, where they mentor newer students and oversee project teams. Following their experience as a Team Lead, selected students are invited to become Program Executives.
Program Executives
Taking on a more direct role in managing and operating the CYC program — assisting with planning, mentorship coordination, operations, outreach, and recruitment.
Paid Internships
After serving in executive leadership roles, students gain access to guaranteed paid internship opportunities organized through the CYC network.
The Final Competition
At the conclusion of each semester, all teams participate in an in-person Final Competition, where they present their projects to a panel of professional judges. Teams are evaluated on innovation, feasibility, impact, teamwork, and presentation quality, with the top three teams receiving recognition and awards.
The Final Competition serves as both a celebration of student achievement and an opportunity for participants to showcase their work to industry leaders, mentors, and members of the broader community.
Ready to get started?
Join the next semester of the CYC High School Program and start building your future today.