Connecting Minds is an independent, student-led organization that seeks to engage Canada’s youth in the public policy discourse. We bring together young Canadians from a diverse range of backgrounds in order to develop ideas that will shape the policy debates of today and tomorrow. To do so, we design and execute projects that create opportunities for leadership and professional development, engagement in the public dialogue, and collaborative public policy research.

Connecting Minds is housed at the Munk School of Global Affairs, and is governed by an undergraduate Board of Directors from the University of Toronto. It is recognized by Trinity College at the University of Toronto, and is in the process of registering for federally recognized charitable non-profit status. Connecting Minds projects are fully funded by corporate and private sponsorship; we would like to extend our thanks, in particular, to the Churchill Society for the Advancement of Parliamentary Democracy.

Since 2008, Connecting Minds has launched three successful initiatives – the University of Toronto Model Parliament, The Policy Exchange, and the Public Policy Research Initiative – connecting hundreds of Canadian youth aged 14 – 29 with leading decision-makers, practitioners, and scholars. Past high-profile participants include: the Hon. William C. Graham (former Minister of National Defence, and Chancellor of Trinity College,) Peter Macleod (Principal, MASS LBP,) Deborah Deller (Head Clerk of the Ontario Legislative Assembly,) and Steven LeDrew (Canadian Television Personality and Past President of the Liberal Party of Canada.)

Through our work, we seek to have an impact in two constituencies – Canadian youth aged 14 – 29 drawn from national universities and local high schools, as well as the broader public policy community. In our first of activity, given the constraints imposed by a limited budget and the task of starting up, we have really only succeeded in having an impact in the former constituency. Our efforts continue to build a larger undergraduate research network, to solicit further submissions for The Policy Exchange, and to bring a youth perspective to the public policy dialogue by disseminating our findings.

Our Goals

• To design and execute projects that engage young Canadians with leading decision-makers, practitioners, and scholars
• To encourage an interest in public affairs, to promote active citizenship, and to inspire a commitment to public service among project participants, volunteers, and organizers
• To publish student scholarship and public affairs journalism in a peer-reviewed online journal
• To undertake applied public policy research with a network of student research analysts, and to disseminate findings among the Canadian public policy community
• To provide electronic communications services to affiliated projects and organizations
• To facilitate professional development opportunities for participants, volunteers and project organizers