The Ontario Youth Parliament ("OYP") is one of a number of provincial

Provinces and territories of Canada

The provinces and territories of Canada combine to make up the world's second-largest country by area. There are ten provinces and three territories...

 youth model parliament

Model parliament

A Model Parliament is a simulation of the parliamentary proceedings of a legislature or other deliberative assembly, often based upon the Westminster Parliamentary system...

s across Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

.

Ontario Youth Parliament is a 4-day debating conference held Family Day

Family Day (Canada)

In parts of Canada, the February Civic Holiday is a statutory holiday occurring on the third Monday in February. In the provinces of Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan it is termed Family Day. By contrast, in the provinces of Manitoba and Prince Edward Island, the statutory holiday on this date is...

 Weekend that is open to youth ages 14 to 21 from Ontario, Canada

Ontario

Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....

. OYP is a Christian-based organization but it is open to participants of all faiths. It combines components of parliament-style debate, social and leadership development activities, and Christian themed vesper services. The debate is modeled after the Legislative Assembly of Ontario

Legislative Assembly of Ontario

The Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...

, with mock legislation written by members of the youth cabinet on youth-relevant topics. Social activities include two dances and a formal banquet, secret friends, and leadership building games. The spiritual side of OYP is addressed through open nightly discussion on the theme chosen for that year and attendance at the hosting church's Sunday service. It has provided youth the opportunity to make new friends, speak their mind, and know their hearts since 1969.

Locations and Personages

Ontario Youth Parliament (by Session)

Session	Year	Location	Church	Theme	Premier	Leader of the Opposition
43	2012	Lindsay Lindsay Lindsay may refer to:*Clan Lindsay, a Scottish family clan*Lindsay , a surname derived from the Scottish clan namePlacenames*Division of Lindsay, an electoral district in the Australian House of Representatives*Lindsay, California, USA...	Cambridge Streed United Church	Getting Properly Lost	Melissa Baldwin Ottawa Ottawa Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...	Lynn O'Brien Lindsay Lindsay Lindsay may refer to:*Clan Lindsay, a Scottish family clan*Lindsay , a surname derived from the Scottish clan namePlacenames*Division of Lindsay, an electoral district in the Australian House of Representatives*Lindsay, California, USA...
42	2011	Ottawa Ottawa Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...	Southminster United Church	Commitment	Lynn O'Brien Lindsay Lindsay Lindsay may refer to:*Clan Lindsay, a Scottish family clan*Lindsay , a surname derived from the Scottish clan namePlacenames*Division of Lindsay, an electoral district in the Australian House of Representatives*Lindsay, California, USA...	Melissa Baldwin Ottawa Ottawa Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
41	2010	Welland Welland, Ontario Welland is a city in the Regional Municipality of Niagara in Southern Ontario, Canada.The city has been traditionally known as the place where rails and water meet, referring to the railways from Buffalo to Toronto and Southwestern Ontario, and the waterways of Welland Canal and Welland River,...	Welland Central United Church	What is Your Name	Beth Duffus Toronto Toronto Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...	Jocelyn Lewis Welland Welland, Ontario Welland is a city in the Regional Municipality of Niagara in Southern Ontario, Canada.The city has been traditionally known as the place where rails and water meet, referring to the railways from Buffalo to Toronto and Southwestern Ontario, and the waterways of Welland Canal and Welland River,...
40	2009	Brockville	Wall Street United Church	The Journey	Sarah Sharp Ottawa Ottawa Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...	Scott Masterson London London, Ontario London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
39	2008	London London, Ontario London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...	Riverside United Church	The Dark, the Dusk, and the Dawn	Allan Thompson London London, Ontario London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...	Sarah Sharp Ottawa Ottawa Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
39	2007	Port Credit Port Credit, Ontario Port Credit is found at the mouth of the Credit River on the north shore of Lake Ontario, within the southcentral area of the city of Mississauga...	First United Church	Addiction	Laura Gideon Brantford	Trevor Walker London London, Ontario London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
38	2006	Waterloo Waterloo, Ontario Waterloo is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It is the smallest of the three cities in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, and is adjacent to the city of Kitchener....	Emmanuel United Church	Inside Out	James Drummond Ottawa Ottawa Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...	Ashleigh Davis Brantford
37	2005	Kingston Kingston, Ontario Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...	Princess Street United Church	Make it yours	Rob Kempson Kingston Kingston, Ontario Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...	Kirsten Otis Brantford
36	2004	Ottawa Ottawa Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...	St. Stephen's Anglican Church	Harmony	Jennifer Hall Wingham Wingham, Ontario Wingham is a community located in the municipality of North Huron, Ontario, Canada, which is located in Huron County...	Jonathan Crowley Richmond Hill Richmond Hill, Ontario Richmond Hill is a town located in Southern Ontario, Canada in the central portion of York Region, Ontario. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area, being located about halfway between Toronto and Lake Simcoe...
35	2003	London London, Ontario London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...	Wessley-Knox United Church and St. James Westminster Anglican Church	Soul Food	Kerry Creelman Windsor Windsor, Ontario Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...	Bill Woodhouse Ottawa Ottawa Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
34	2002	Hamilton Hamilton, Ontario Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...	Westdale United Church	Gold Stars	Rilla Montgomery Ottawa Ottawa Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...	Ryan Smith Ottawa Ottawa Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
33	2001	Ottawa Ottawa Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...	Parkdale United Church	Making Waves	Cathy Masterson Chatham Chatham, Ontario Chatham is the largest community in the municipality of Chatham-Kent, Ontario. Formerly serving as the seat of Kent County, the governments of the former city of Chatham, the county of Kent, and its townships were merged into one entity known as the Municipality of Chatham-Kent in 1998.Located on...	Tyler Hortie Uxbridge Uxbridge, Ontario Uxbridge is a township in south-central Ontario, Canada, in the Regional Municipality of Durham, in the Greater Toronto Area.The main centre in the township is the namesake community of Uxbridge...
32	2000	Brantford	St. Andrew's United Church	Make a Joyful Noise	Laura Montgomery Ottawa Ottawa Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...	Paul Meahan London London, Ontario London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
31	1999	Windsor Windsor, Ontario Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...	?	Becoming...	John Masterson Chatham Chatham, Ontario Chatham is the largest community in the municipality of Chatham-Kent, Ontario. Formerly serving as the seat of Kent County, the governments of the former city of Chatham, the county of Kent, and its townships were merged into one entity known as the Municipality of Chatham-Kent in 1998.Located on...	Elizabeth Inrig Ottawa Ottawa Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...

Regional Parliaments

The OYP holds five regional parliaments across Ontario

Ontario

Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....

 each year. Though each regional parliament is distinct in its traditions, the Ontario Youth Parliament Association regulates each parliament through the Regionals Act. The original 5 regionals were: South Western Ontario Youth Parliament (SWORP), South Central Ontario Parliament for Youth (SCOPY), Central Ontario Regional Parliament (CORP), Eastern Ontario Regional Youth Parliament (EORYP), and Northern Ontario Regional Parliament (NORP). Due to low registration in both regionals, SCOPY and CORP planned to hold their 2005 session jointly as South Central Ontario Regional Parliament for Youth (SCORPY), however the session never ran. In 2006 only one regional, EORYP, has been held.

See also

• Youth Parliament of Canada/Parlement jeunesse du Canada
  Youth Parliament of Canada/Parlement jeunesse du Canada
  The Youth Parliament of Canada/Parlement jeunesse du Canada was a youth model parliament that met bi-annually, and later annually, in the 1980s...
  
  
• History of Youth Work
  History of Youth Work
  The history of youth work goes back to the birth of the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century, which was the first time that young men left their own homes and cottage industries to migrate to the big towns...