April 18, 2026
Youth Summit
2026
Unlimited: Youth Impact in the Age of AI
Toronto · Canada
See the highlights ↓
POTENTIAL INTO IMPACT
What can your ideas do for someone else?
On April 18, 2026, the fifth Youth Summit brought ten student initiatives to Toronto. Students presented clothing designed around cancer treatment, a virtual reconstruction of the ancient university of Nalanda, AI tools being explored for scam detection, and community environmental action.
Young founders met a Member of Parliament, AI experts, education innovators, and community and business partners. Through keynotes, presentations and judges’ feedback, technical ideas came into conversation with cultural understanding and human needs. Students brought knowledge, tools and questions of their own to work that matters beyond school.
- Annual youth summit
- 5th
- Student initiatives on stage
- 10
- Awards for youth-led action
- 5
- Prize pool
- CAD 5,000+
SUMMIT HIGHLIGHTS
How students put technology and care into practice.
01
Speakers on civic life and the choices ahead
Speakers brought perspectives on civic action, AI and education, giving students a closer view of the questions and choices shaping public life.
02
Designing with people in mind
Ten initiatives addressed patient care, cultural heritage, digital safety and the environment through research, technology, design and community service.
03
Recognition for work worth continuing
Five awards recognized student-led work with a combined CAD 5,500 in prize money.
COMMUNITY. EXPERTISE. OPPORTUNITY.
Student questions meet experience across fields.
Selected participating organizations
Participants from public service, finance, technology, education and community organizations brought different professional perspectives to the summit.
Youth diplomacy
Canada Model United Nations
Introduces students to diplomacy, negotiation and international affairs through Model United Nations.
Visit website ↗
Student business leadership
FBLC
Connects students with opportunities to explore business, develop leadership and learn about professional life.
Visit website ↗
Finance & investing
Target Alpha
Brings students together to explore finance, investing and business decisions.
Financial services & AI
BMO
Contributors from commercial banking, AI strategy and digital platforms brought perspectives on technology and decision-making in financial services.
Visit website ↗
Industry expertise
ExpertEase
Connects students exploring professional fields with people who have direct industry experience.
Visit website ↗
Creative education
Linn Portfolio Education
Supports students’ creative development through art, design and portfolio education.
Visit website ↗SPEAKERS & COMMUNITY LEADERS
Selected speakers and judges
Costas Menegakis
Member of Parliament, Canada
A former Parliamentary Secretary for Citizenship and Immigration, sharing experience in public service and community leadership.
Connie Xi
Senior Manager, AI Strategy & Governance, BMO Commercial Bank
Leads AI adoption and governance across North American banking portfolios, with a focus on human-centred innovation.
Dwayne Matthews
Founder, TomorrowNow Learning Labs · Education futurist
Works with governments and institutions to rethink education systems as the world changes.
Garcia Jorge
Senior Manager, Corporate Banking & Digital Platforms, BMO
Brings more than twenty years of experience in banking and digital transformation, focused on customer experience and technology solutions.
Casper Dong
AI researcher, University of Waterloo · 2025 summit award recipient
A Canada-Wide Science Fair gold medallist returning to the summit with experience in student-led aerospace and AI research.
YOUTH-LED IMPACT
From treatment-friendly clothing to history in virtual reality.
Meet the ten student initiatives and the questions each chose to pursue.
Changemaker Award · CAD 2,000
Perform for a Smile
Visit website ↗Brings music, dance and performance into communities to support meaningful causes and connect people.
Pinnacle Award · CAD 1,500
The Lotus Project
Recreates the ancient university of Nalanda in virtual reality, giving people an immersive way to explore cultural heritage.
Trailblazer Award · CAD 1,000
Ports of Hope
Visit website ↗Designs clothing that makes treatment access easier for cancer patients, responding to a practical need in everyday care.
People’s Choice Award · CAD 500
GreenToronto
Turns concern for the environment into community cleanups, creative projects and youth-led action.
People’s Choice Award · CAD 500
INNOSpark
Creates opportunities for young founders through entrepreneurship workshops and a free pitch competition for high-school students.
CanaryOS
Explores AI tools that flag potential scams in calls, texts and emails, bringing cybersecurity into everyday situations.
BiteZero
Combines education and action to address food waste and make better use of available resources.
Neuroscience Unlocked
Explores memory, sleep and the brain through neuroscience and electroencephalography (EEG) research.
Hack for a Change
Visit website ↗Makes cybersecurity learning more accessible through free challenges and practical resources.
MyVolunteerPathway
The team is developing a platform to help students and community organizations coordinate volunteering opportunities.
STUDENT SPEAKERS
Meet the students behind the work
Selected student speakers
Brighton Ng
INNOSpark
Sai Amartya B.L
CanaryOS
Dhairya Shah
CanaryOS
Angela Dong
Maryam Khan
Myra Jaggi
Gauri Sharma
BiteZero
Joy Li
Arjun Kulkarni
Ishaan Grotra
Agnes Yang
GreenToronto
Alex Song
GreenToronto
Darren Zhang
GreenToronto
Sahana Venkataraman
The Lotus Project
Kaia Kuchibhatla
Neuroscience Unlocked
Harrison Wang
Jayden Li
Angela Kalopisis
MyVolunteerPathway
Rubab Rizvi
MyVolunteerPathway
Student organizations & initiatives
- INNOSpark
- CanaryOS
- Ports of Hope ↗
- BiteZero
- Perform for a Smile ↗
- GreenToronto
- The Lotus Project
- Neuroscience Unlocked
- Hack for a Change ↗
- MyVolunteerPathway
More photos from the summit · 8 photos
BEYOND THE SUMMIT
Student work, reaching a wider audience
Selected media coverage, sponsors and partners
BUILD WHAT COMES NEXT
Help open the next door for young people.
Schools, non-profits, student organizations and industry partners all have something to bring. Share the questions your community is working on and the expertise you can offer. Together, we can give more young people opportunities to present their work, exchange ideas and contribute.
Talk about collaborating