Place aux Jeunes

Background:

‘You can never go home again' is a phrase with which many are familiar; Place aux Jeunes is an approach that has been designed to dispute that phrase. A recent study by the Institut National de Recherche Scientifique notes that while the departure of youth from rural communities still poses a problem, many are not leaving rural regions for job opportunities. They are leaving for education opportunities and a change of lifestyle. Indeed, many youth do not consider the move permanent and the option of returning is always kept open.

The Place aux Jeunes has been designed to respond to this right-of-passage into adulthood. It assists rural communities in moving away from trying to keep youth at all costs to a process that will build ties with them to the community and eventually see their return to rural regions.

Model Description:

Fifteen years ago, Quebec created Place aux Jeunes to help communities respond to rural youth out-migration. Today, close to 70 Place aux Jeunes projects are active throughout rural Quebec. The model saw positive results in youth retention and identified the reasons for youth departures. Moreover, it assists in the social and economic integration of youth and has helped communities address rural youth issues.

The model will be implemented in three provinces/territories to help determine what conditions are needed to maintain and attract youth to rural regions. To achieve this, Place aux Jeunes du Québec, as the champion for the model, will provide its expertise to each site to ensure the structure, initiatives and tools are in place to get the projects up and running.

The model targets those currently enrolled in or those who have completed post-secondary studies but it also allows for activities with those who are 18 to 35. While activities are determined by the needs of local youth, education, economic development and entrepreneurship play key roles.

Project Funding:

Define the pattern of youth out-migration and identify conditions that favour the retention and integration of youth within rural regions. This information will help to develop youth strategies adapted to rural communities.

Research Objectives:

• Define the pattern of youth out-migration and identify conditions that favour the retention and integration of youth within rural regions. This information will help to develop youth strategies adapted to rural communities.

The research activities supported by the Rural Secretariat's Models for Rural Development and Rural Community Capacity Building Program (The Models Program) will contribute to the understanding of what approaches (models) to community development and capacity building work in rural, remote and northern communities. The information collected will be useful for all levels of government to support their decisions on programs and services for rural Canadians, as well as future policy directions.

Community Sites:

The Place aux Jeunes model is being implemented in Nova Scotia, Manitoba and Yukon through Place aux Jeunes du Québec.