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Civic Youth Fellowship

Learn how your city works. Build your leadership. Make an impact.

Sponsored by The Africa Centre, ASSIST Community Services Centre, Canadian Race Relations Foundation, kihêw waciston - MacEwan University, IslamicFamily & The City of Edmonton
Hours & Duration: Temporary Full-time 10 weeks (non-hybrid/in-person)
Location: Edmonton w/ travel required throughout the city
Compensation: $25.25 per hour at 36.9 hrs per week (for 10 weeks)
Reporting to: City Councillor Member or City of Edmonton Deputy City Manager & IslamicFamily Fellowship Coordinator (employment contract is with IslamicFamily and placement is at City of Edmonton)
Application Deadline: Sunday Oct 18, 2026. 11:59 PM
Length: Placements start in May 2027. Bi-monthly training from January 2027 - April 2027
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Purpose

The Civic Youth Fellowship was created to develop the next generation of civic and community leaders and broaden the voices, experiences and perspectives represented in municipal government.

The Fellowship brings together passionate young leaders who care about Edmonton, are engaged in their communities and want to better understand the issues shaping their city.

Through meaningful experience inside municipal government, fellows gain the knowledge, relationships and opportunities to turn that passion into action — while bringing fresh perspectives and ideas to the work of the City.

Our goal is to build a stronger pipeline of diverse leaders who see themselves playing a role in Edmonton’s future.

Impact

You will support elected officials and city administration in building meaningful relationships with equity-deserving communities, increasing access to local government, and delivering a meaningful project that fosters community impact.

Benefit

Real experience

Work alongside City leaders and teams and contribute to meaningful projects involving policy, research, communications, community engagement, events and other civic priorities.

Civic knowledge

Learn how municipal government works, how decisions are made and how communities can participate in and influence local government.

Leadership skills

Strengthen your communication, collaboration, networking, advocacy, relationship-building and professional skills through hands-on learning.

Mentorship

Receive one-on-one guidance from an experienced mentor who will support your personal and professional development throughout the Fellowship.

A professional network

Build relationships with fellow emerging leaders, mentors, community organizations, elected officials and City professionals.

A chance to contribute

Bring your experiences, ideas and community perspectives into the work. CYF is not just about observing government — it is about contributing to it.

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Training

Your Fellowship begins with interactive training designed to prepare you for your placement and strengthen your leadership and professional skills.

Training may include: municipal government, leadership , advocacy, communication, networking, relationship-building , professional development.

Training sessions will occur on the second Saturday of the month from January 2027 onwards.

Note: Upon completion of all training participants receive completion certification which is required for final placements. There will be no honorarium for training.

Mentorship

Every fellow is matched with a mentor who provides one-on-one support throughout the program.

Mentors help fellows set goals, navigate new professional environments, build confidence, make meaningful connections and think about opportunities beyond the Fellowship.

Placements

Fellows complete a paid 10-week placement with the City of Edmonton, working with participating City offices and teams.

Depending on the placement, fellows may contribute to:

Research and policy

Community engagement

Communications and social media

Event planning

Briefing materials and jurisdictional scans

Community or constituent-related work

Special initiatives and projects

Each placement is different because fellows contribute to the real priorities and needs of their host team.

New This Year: Indigenous-Focused Placements

This year, the Civic Youth Fellowship is pleased to partner with the City of Edmonton’s Indigenous Relations Office to offer internship placements focused on Indigenous initiatives and priorities.

These placements will provide Indigenous fellows with opportunities to contribute to meaningful City work while gaining hands-on experience in municipal government.

Applicants who self-identify as First Nations, Métis or Inuit can indicate during the application process if they would like to be considered for these placements.

Project

During the placement, each fellow will work with their host team to identify and complete a meaningful project connected to the priorities of their placement.

Projects may involve research, policy, community engagement, communications, program development or another area where the fellow can make a meaningful contribution.

Past fellows have:

Designed and supported community engagement activities

Conducted research and jurisdictional scans

Developed briefing materials and presentations

Supported community garden initiatives

Helped organize neighbourhood events and block parties

Contributed to projects addressing local priorities

The goal isn’t to give every fellow the same assignment. It’s to give fellows meaningful work and the opportunity to apply what they are learning.

Fellowship showcase

At the end of the Fellowship, fellows come together to share their experiences, projects and learning.

The Showcase is an opportunity to celebrate their contributions, reflect on their growth and share what they have learned with City leaders, community partners, mentors and one another.

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Africa Centre The Africa Centre, is the largest pan African organisation in western Canada, serving as a community hub that provides programs and services from a place of cultural awareness and competency to the families in our diverse community. We acknowledge the diversity of our cultural background as a source of the strength that brings capacity and competencies to shape a thriving community in Alberta. We have a strong African indigenous cultural foundation incorporated across our programs and services. ASSIST Community Services Centre Here at ASSIST we are committed to serving the community at large by providing programs and services that meet a variety of needs for newcomers. We welcome all people to our programs regardless of race, gender identity, ability, religion, and sexual orientation, and strive to create an inclusive, diverse, and respectful environment for everyone. Canadian Race Relations Foundation The Canadian Race Relations Foundation was created in 1996 to reaffirm the principles of justice and equality for all in Canada. The mandate of the Foundation is to facilitate throughout Canada the development, sharing, and application of knowledge and expertise to contribute to the elimination of racism and all forms of racial discrimination in Canadian society. kihêw waciston - MacEwan University kihêw waciston, which means “eagle’s nest” in Cree, is a home away from home for MacEwan University's Indigenous students. Here you can gather, work and grow in a community that honours the distinctive knowledge of Indigenous peoples and supports you on your post-secondary journey. As MacEwan University’s Indigenous Centre, we offer personal, academic, financial and cultural support. While many of our services are directed at Indigenous students, kihêw waciston's doors are open to everyone in the MacEwan community. IslamicFamily IslamicFamily supports the mother who is fleeing abuse without making her compromise her identity or safety. We support the man seeking counselling that respects his values. We support youth looking for a creative platform that appreciates and amplifies their voice. We support families beginning new lives amidst hardship. We are Islamic Family & we are created to serve. IslamicFamily is an Imagine Canada accredited charity, the winner of the Government of Alberta’s Inspiration Award for its work combating domestic violence (2020) and the Canadian Mental Health Associations Professional Service Award (2020). For more than 30 years, we have been driven to disrupt systemic inequity, to reflect a rich tradition with beauty, to innovate & to serve with excellence. Islamic Family serves 5000 clients every month, runs Edmonton’s second-largest food bank, provides aid in financial crisis, supports victims of gender-based violence, settles refugees, and delivers a range of preventative programming for youth. Islamic Family is rooted on Treaty 6 and proudly serves all of Alberta. As with all positions at IslamicFamily, it’s important that our culture lines up with your values. Please take a moment to review share.islamicfamily.ca/values. The City of Edmonton Located on Treaty 6 Territory and with a population of over one million, Edmonton is one of Canada's youngest and fastest growing cities. We’re building a resilient and diverse economy, attracting the best and the brightest and striving to be a world leader in environmental sustainability. We value quality of life, community safety and a welcoming spirit that embraces new people and new ideas.
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We are looking for emerging leaders who are curious about their city, connected to their communities and ready to learn.

Applicants must:

1. Be 19–30 years old

2. Live in Edmonton or the surrounding area

3. Have the legal right to work in Canada

4. Demonstrate a commitment to community

5. Be respectful and comfortable working with people from different backgrounds and perspectives

6. Communicate clearly and professionally

7. Be willing to learn, ask questions and receive feedback

8. Be able to work independently and collaboratively

9. Be willing to learn and use common digital tools

10. Be interested in learning about Edmonton and municipal issues

Post-secondary education is an asset, but it is not required.

We recognize that leadership and experience take many forms. Employment, volunteering, community involvement, cultural knowledge, advocacy, caregiving, lived experience and other experiences can all contribute to what you bring to the Fellowship.

What We Look For

Applications will be considered based on:

Community connection How have you contributed to your community, formally or informally?

Curiosity and civic interest Why do local issues matter to you, and what would you like to understand better?

Communication Can you communicate your experiences and ideas clearly and thoughtfully?

Local awareness What issues, opportunities or priorities are important to you and your community?

Potential and willingness to learn What would you bring to the Fellowship, and how would you use the opportunity to grow?

You do not need to be an expert in municipal government before applying. Learning how the City works is part of the Fellowship.

Thinking About Applying?

Don’t count yourself out because you don’t meet every qualification perfectly.

There is no single path to becoming a Civic Youth Fellow. We value community experience, curiosity, different perspectives and a willingness to learn.

If you care about your community and you’re ready to grow, we encourage you to apply.

Go to the next page!

I meet all the requirements and would like to apply