Youth Forum at General Council 2025
2025-08-05 - 2025-08-12 | Calgary
What is the purpose of the Youth Forum at GC45?
Youth Forum is an opportunity for young people to participate in the education, decision-making, and community of General Council 45 of The United Church of Canada. Its aim is to ensure that young people have a voice in the denomination-shaping issues and decisions for the next three years in the life of the church. It is an opportunity to speak to issues that matter to young people, to share ideas, and to connect with peers and other members and leaders of the General Council.
When and where will GC45 and Youth Forum take place?
There will be three online sessions for General Council: Sunday, April 27 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Eastern, Sunday June 22 from 4:30-7:00 p.m. Eastern, and Saturday June 28 from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern. The first session includes worship, introduction to the theme, agenda, reports, proposals, and business procedures of General Council. The second session includes worship, introductions of global and ecumenical guests, community building and discussion groups. The session on June 28 begins the Learning and Discussion sessions for GC45.
Youth Forum gathers in person August 5-7 in Calgary. There will be two age groups, 15-17 years and 18-25 years. General Council will meet August 7-11 at the Calgary Telus Convention Centre. Youth Forum will close August 12 by noon. Travel home will begin in the afternoon of August 12.
Who can join the forum?
Youth Forum is open to young people, ages 15 to 25, selected by regional councils. Youth Forum leaders have the ambitious and achievable goal of having 100 young people under age 30 attend General Council 45. While this remains the goal, the 2024 Youth Leadership Animators have prioritized the participation and inclusion of Racialized and Indigenous young people. In doing so, youth are calling on each region to select a maximum of 50% non-Indigenous and non-Racialized, and a minimum 50% Indigenous and Racialized youth. Each region is asked to select up to six youth, including commissioners, which means at minimum there should be an equivalent number of Racialized and Indigenous youth to white youth. Youth Forum participants will be placed in two groups, those 15-18 and 18-25.
Is there a fee to join?
Registration for Youth Forum at GC45 is free and travel arrangements are made by the General Council. Some events or activities may have associated costs. No one will be excluded due to difficulty in payment.
How do I apply?
Click here for the application form!
Application deadline is Nov 30, 2024. Applicants will be notified by mid-December.

ALF 2025 Youth Retreat
2025-10-24 - 2025-10-26
If you are a grade 7 to 12 youth, we welcome you to join us in Virden, MB from October 24th to 26th to explore the history of the United Church in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the United Church of Canada.
Make friends with other youth from across the United Church’s Prairie to Pine Region while exploring the theme through Worship, Song, and Inter-active Theme Times. The retreat wouldn’t be complete without social time — dancing, games, chatting over meals (and canteen treats)! …and then rolling out your sleeping bag on a church floor to dream sweet dreams surrounded by new and old friends resting up for another busy exciting day!
The retreat is planned by young people for young people.
Invite your friends, neighbours, cousins (the ones you see often and the ones you would like to see more often!)
Haven’t been to a retreat before? – See: Retreat description for potential participants.
To allow all to attend, no matter their family’s financial status, the fee is suggested on a “pay what you can” scale from full fee of $95 down to $0.

First time registrant full fee stays the same right up until the deadline, to give us time to get the word out to new families – $80

All return retreat-goers:

$5 off early bird fee if registered by Sept 12th -$80
Early bird fee if registered by Sept 24th – $85
Registration deadline: Oct 12th – $95

REGISTER HERE
We are also looking for leaders age 16+. Interested? Apply here ASAP.

LS Youth Confirmation
2025-11-21 19:00 - 2025-11-23 13:00 (America/Regina)
Living Skies Region Youth Confirmation 2025
Grades 7-12

WHERE: Biggar United Church, Biggar SK

WHEN: Friday, November 21, 7:00pm
to Sunday, November 23, 1:00 pm
COST: $60/participant
A great weekend to share, learn, laugh, and grow in our faith together.
Confirmation of Faith officially is a relationship with your home congregation or community of faith. The Youth Confirmation Weekend can be one part of that journey with a group of other youth who share similar questions, doubts, jokes, and life experiences, and we’ll connect with your home church about the actual confirmation service and process.
Join us for the weekend – it’s gonna be amazing!
Registration Deadline: Wednesday November 12, 2025
Support funding is always available so everyone is able to take part, thanks to some generous sponsors! Just contact Lindsay at 306-291-5943 or livingskiesyaya@united-church.ca and we’ll make it work.

To register click here, and we’ll be in touch about the event!

LS Spring Youth Retreat 2026
2026-04-24 19:00 - 2026-04-26 13:00 | Prince Albert: Calvary United Church, 114 25 St. E., Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, S6V 1S5
If you are a grade 7 to 12 youth, we welcome you to join us at Calvary United Church in Prince Albert from April 24-26.
Make friends with other youth from across the United Church’s Living Skies Region (Saskatchewan) while exploring our faith life through worship, song, and interactive theme times.
The retreat wouldn’t be complete without social time — games, chatting over meals …and then rolling out your sleeping bag on a church floor to dream sweet dreams surrounded by new and old friends resting up for another busy exciting day!
Invite your friends, neighbours, cousins (the ones you see often and the ones you would like to see more often!)
To allow all to attend, no matter their family’s financial status, financial support is available as an option.
Click Here to Register
Registration deadline: Monday April 13
We are also looking for leaders age 16+. Interested? Send an email to Lindsay at livingskiesyaya@united-church.ca

Rainbow Resource Launch Party
2026-09-22 18:30 - 19:30
You’re invited to cover yourself in rainbows and join us for an online launch party of our newly published Resources for 2SLGBTQ+ Teens. This toolkit answers the question “can I be 2SLGBTQ+ and also a Christian?” and includes current research, definitions, supports for mental health, and additional reading for parents and those who support gender and sexually diverse youth.
At our party we will share some highlights for the resource and chat about ways that our communities of faith are offering ministry to and with youth as they grow and explore their identity and their faith. Please register below to receive the zoom link!

Launch Party:
Tuesday Sept 22
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm CST
Registration link:
https://united-church.zoom.us/meeting/register/3e_p4FVERmmbusdSBTcUCw
