November 5, 2025, Youth Climate Corps BC (YCCBC) celebrates the federal government’s commitment of $40 million over two years to establish a national Youth Climate Corps, as announced in the Budget 2025 - Canada Strong released November 4th.

Recently, Youth Climate Corps BC (YCCBC)’s staff and board members gathered in Vancouver for a strategic retreat to reflect on our progress and plan for our future. 

The West Kootenay Youth Climate Corps (WK) is delivered in partnership with Wildsight, an environmental organization that has been working in the Columbia Basin for over 35 years to support sustainable communities and protect biodiversity.

The East Kootenay Youth Climate Corps is delivered in partnership with Wildsight, an environmental organization that has been working in the Columbia Basin for nearly 40 years to support sustainable communities and protect biodiversity.

2025 was the first year that SWCC and YCC partnered to build opportunities for youth in the Skeena watershed. With YCC funding, SWCC was able to hire 4 youth in total. Two youth supported SWCC’s Field Schools and Bioremediation projects, and two youth were employed as Junior River guides in SWCC’s rafting-based programs, Youth and Women on Water.

Grow your career while making a real impact in your community. As a Community Climate Action Mobilizer with YCCBC, you’ll get paid to turn climate values into meaningful action where you live. With gratitude to the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions for funding support, we are seeking a Youth Leadership Development Intern to play a key role in strengthening YCCBC’s approach to youth leadership, governance, and participatory decision-making.

It’s an in-between season for YCCBC. Our fall programs have wrapped up, and while our summer crews are still a few months away from launching, our work continues behind the scenes.

We are excited to share that our Executive Director, Ben Simoni, and Director of Marketing and Communications, Eymie Labbe, are in Ottawa and will be at an upcoming event hosted by the Canadian Climate Institute titled Climate Policy in a Changing World. 

YCCBC primarily operates on ‘Namgis territory and also works across the broader Kwakwaka’wakw territories, including those of the Da’naxda’xw, Ma’amtagila, and ‘Namgis Nations.

Youth Climate Corps British Columbia is hiring Co-Leads for Vernon, Squamish, Kelowna, and Courtenay. With gratitude to the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions for funding support, we are seeking a Youth Leadership Development Intern to play a key role in strengthening YCCBC’s approach to youth leadership, governance, and participatory decision-making.

Youth Climate Corps British Columbia is hiring a Youth Leadership Development Intern. With gratitude to the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions for funding support, we are seeking a Youth Leadership Development Intern to play a key role in strengthening YCCBC’s approach to youth leadership, governance, and participatory decision-making.

This summer, over the course of the 3.5-month season, the YCC Vernon team participated in a variety of skill-building, community engagement, and environmental stewardship activities. This season report is a month-by-month overview of the program, highlighting key projects, events, and metrics that shaped the season. 

From May to October 2025, YCCBC Courtenay ran a successful pilot program in the Comox Valley, employing four youth (ages 17–30) at a living wage. Supported by a Program Lead, the team worked as Community Climate Action Mobilizers and a Program Coordinator, focusing on ecosystem restoration, food security, environmental monitoring, and community connection.

From May 20 to October 3, 2025, YCCBC delivered its Squamish program for the second consecutive year in partnership with the District of Squamish, completing 24 high-impact projects.

Youth Climate Corps British Columbia is back for 2026, and we're kicking the year off with exciting new opportunities in the Kootenay region and important new insights from our end-of-season reports.

Kelowna's Youth Climate Corps has had a fantastic first season that has absolutely flown by. While the team will be wrapping up operations this month, we are happy to share what they've been up to these past few months through their recent social media takeover. 

Wildsight, in partnership with Youth Climate Corps BC, is hiring Climate Action Technicians in the West and East Kootenay regions.

As we enter the final days of 2025, the year is mainly in the rearview mirror, and we wanted to use this time to reflect on and express gratitude. Thank you for your continued support of YCCBC.

I’m Sasha Alfonso, a Climate Action Mobilizer with YCCBC Kelowna, and I organized the Holiday Toy Swap that recently happened on December 14th, 2025.

This Tuesday, alumni from the YCCBC Insulators Pilot Program met with the BC Federation of Labour and Rob Sheck from BC Insulators Local 118 to share their experiences in the workforce one year after completing the program.

Climate Action Mobilizers from YCCBC Kelowna are hosting free events in the coming weeks, and we would love to see you there!

November has been a month of meaningful progress and recognition for Youth Climate Corps BC. Our Kelowna team is experiencing a productive and educational first season, gaining valuable hands-on learning in the field. At the same time, YCCBC met with Premier Eby to discuss the future of our organization, and the recent federal budget has committed $40 million to establishing a national Youth Climate Corps.

This summer, a YCCBC program took root in the Comox Valley! In a piece written by alumnus Maddie Turenne, you can take a look inside the first season of YCCBC Courtenay, where youth worked on food security, ecological restoration, and watershed monitoring through partnerships with LUSH Valley, Lake Trail Community Education Society, and Project Watershed, to name a few.

The YCCBC team, including several of our alumni and volunteers, were excited to meet with BC Premier David Eby and Brittny Anderson MLA for Kootenay Central yesterday.