OCA Welcomes New Director of Co-operative Young Leaders
It is with great pleasure that we welcome Carol Fleming to OCA as our 2019 CYL program director. Carol brings a wealth of experience and passion to her role, having worked in the co-operative system for many years. She has held various positions working in credit unions, the provincial central and CUETS. Most recently, she was the Director of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships at Momentum Credit Union. Carol’s expertise in communication, training, financial counseling and coaching has been instrumental in helping the credit union meet their corporate goals, and helping members meet their personal and financial goals.
According to Carol, one of the most rewarding aspects of her career has been the opportunity to work with the Co-operative Young Leaders (CYL) program. As a camp facilitator, Carol has had the opportunity to bring back to her co-operative the insight needed to meet the needs of its youth members, as well as a better understanding of leadership, and a renewed sense of how important and relevant the co-operative principles are in today’s world.
“The CYL program has changed my life in ways I never expected. The opportunity to learn from some of the brightest and best of today’s youth has given me a better understanding of the world we live in and the wonderful opportunities we have for the future. I never fail to be amazed by the ideas, the knowledge and the enthusiasm for the co-operative system and all it has to offer. What a really amazing adventure it has been to be able to meet people from all walks of life and all different co-operatives. My life is richer and I feel truly blessed to be part of this program. I can’t wait to meet all of the participants and facilitators for 2019!”
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Ramping up for CYL 2019
After a successful 2018 program, another year of CYL planning is well underway. We are very excited once again to welcome all of the participants and facilitators for what promised to be another fun filled adventure!
In 2018 CYL found a permanent home at the Gay Lea Foods Community Education Centre. The centre is located in Aylmer ON and is set on 98-acres of fields and trails through beautiful Carolinian forest. The facility can accommodate 42 guests, with a large common area and breakout rooms for our participants to work on team projects making this the perfect place for CYL. In addition to this amazing facility, our new location provides participants with the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors. During camp we are able to explore the trails, enjoy camp fires, experience and learn about the past by touring the Gay Lea Dairy Museum. We are very happy to be returning in the summer of 2019!
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Facilitation Opportunities
Being a CYL Facilitator is an incredible professional development experience. You have the opportunity to develop and strengthen your leadership skills, work on a new and different approach to team-building, while at the same time increasing your knowledge of the co-operative system in Ontario. Facilitators leave the CYL leadership program engaged the minds and hearts of the next generation of co-operative leaders. Learn more about becoming a Facilitator!
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Participant Opportunities
The CYL program is led by experienced volunteers and educators in the co-operative sector, ensuring that all participants have a unique opportunity to learn new leadership skills, be a change agent in their community/co-operative, and meet others from the co-operative system. Learn more about the advantages of participating!
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Check out these testimonials from past participants and facilitators!
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Programs Dates & Fees
Camp dates and fees (per participant) are as follows:
Junior A from July 7 - July 12, 2019 for $895 + HST per participant
Intermediate A from July 14 - July 19, 2019 for $895 + HST per participant
Junior B from July 21 - July 26, 2019 for $895 + HST per participant
Intermediate B from July 28th - August 2, 2019 for $895 + HST per participant
Senior from August 4 - August 9, 2019 for $970 + HST per participant
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Registration
Facilitator and Participant registration is now open! We are looking forward to seeing participants from last year return and meeting new participants for a week of co-operative education, leadership, team-building and camp activities. Click the link below to register online.
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Need Financial Assistance?
We are now accepting applications for both the Bernie Daly Memorial Fund (pictured left), and the Guido Chezzi Bursary (pictured right).
Established in 2009, in honour of the late Bernie Daly, GROWMARK, Inc. and the Ontario FS Co-operatives created the Bernie Daly Memorial Fund to support the continued growth of the CYL Program. The main objective of this fund is to provide a long-term pool of resources that will help support youth who cannot participate in CYL due to financial restraints or lack of sponsorship. The fund is available to returning participants of CYL (i.e., entering their second or third year of the program). Participants who meet this criteria can download and complete the application.
The Guido Chezzi Bursary, created in 2015 by the Ontario Credit Union Foundation, is open to youth aged 14 to 15 years, who are interested in starting CYL as junior participants. As such, the fund is specific to first year participants of CYL only. It is offered to teens wishing to attend the program who are not already partnered with a co-operative or credit union, with the goal of sending a new participant each year. Participants who meet this criteria can download and complete the application.
Learn more about the funds online.
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