We are the
EMPIRE CLUB
FOUNDATION
Charity
We are the
EMPIRE CLUB
FOUNDATION
Charity
Empowering the Next Generation
Our vision is to empower and elevate young leaders across Canada by equipping them with the tools, networks, and platforms necessary to shape civic, social, economic, and cultural futures – through a continuum of programs anchored in our new Future Leaders Youth Ambassadorship Program.
Shaping Canada’s Future, Together
For more than 120 years, the Empire Club of Canada has been the nation’s trusted forum for conversations that shape our world – from Winston Churchill and Indira Gandhi to Margaret Atwood, Audrey Hepburn, and Masai Ujiri.
The Empire Club Foundation, as the charitable arm of the Club, carries this legacy forward in a bold new chapter: from being primarily a steward of archival knowledge to also becoming an active facilitator of youth leadership, civic participation, public education and equal opportunity for all.
Through educational opportunities, scholarships, mentorship, and unique access to influential dialogue, the Foundation empowers students and emerging leaders to engage meaningfully and prepare to lead Canada’s future.
Our Programs
Pillar 1
Empowering Youth Through Education
- FUTURE LEADERS: YOUTH AMBASSADORSHIP PROGRAM
- STUDENT SEASON TABLE PRESENTING PARTNER PROGRAM
- FUTURE NATION BUILDER OF THE YEAR AWARD PROGRAM
Pillar 2
Breaking Barriers to Opportunity
- CONVERSATIONS THAT MATTER, ALL YEAR LONG
Our Event Series on Social issues and Current Affairs creates space for timely, relevant discussions on the issues shaping our world. Through four flagship events each year, we invite experts, thought leaders, and students to explore the topics they care about most, bringing fresh perspectives and bold questions to the national stage.
Pillar 3
Shaping the Future Through Public AwarenesS
- DIGITAL LIBRARY OF IMAGES AND SPEECHES
Our digital library of speeches and images contains a wealth of source history stretching back more than a century, delivered from impactful people from all corners of the world, and all walks of life.
Pillar 1 – Empowering Students Through Education
Future Leaders: Youth Ambassadorship Program
What it is: A flagship initiative for youth ages 17–25 that provides mentorship, leadership training, civic engagement, and opportunities to speak on national stages. Participants join a peer cohort, receive professional coaching, and gain access to high-level Empire Club events.
Why it matters: It builds a pipeline of diverse young leaders ready to shape Canada’s future, giving them the skills, networks, and confidence to lead.
Student Season Table Program
What it is: A program that opens the doors of the Empire Club to students each year, giving them the opportunity to attend marquee events and take their place alongside business, government, and thought leaders as active participants in national conversations.
Why it matters: It ensures young people aren’t just learning about leadership in classrooms but they are experiencing it in real time, building civic knowledge and real-world connections
Student Season Table Program
What it is: A program that opens the doors of the Empire Club to students each year, giving them the opportunity to attend marquee events and take their place alongside business, government, and thought leaders as active participants in national conversations.
Why it matters: It ensures young people aren’t just learning about leadership in classrooms but they are experiencing it in real time, building civic knowledge and real-world connections
Future Nation Builder of the Year Award
What it is: A national award recognizing one extraordinary young Canadian (17–24) who is driving change through innovation, community impact, and civic leadership. The program includes nominations, regional speech competitions, and a national award presentation.
Why it matters: It celebrates and accelerates youth-led change, shining a spotlight on the leaders of tomorrow and inspiring others to follow in their footsteps.
Pillar 2 – Breaking Barriers to Opportunity
Conversations That Matter Series
What it is: An annual event series tackling urgent social issues such as mental health, climate justice, housing, and equity. Each conversation is created to engage both public and civic audiences in meaningful dialogue. The program makes space for timely and relevant discussions on the issues shaping our world. Inviting experts, thought leaders, and students to bring fresh perspectives and bold questions to the national stage.
Why it matters: It creates a platform where equity-deserving groups can speak to the issues that affect them most, while modeling inclusive leadership and bridging generational perspectives on Canada’s most pressing challenges.
Pillar 3 – Shaping the Future Through Public Awareness
Digital Library & Archives
What it is: Our digital library. It is a national resource and one of Canada’s largest digital collections of speeches, images, and source history, curated over 120 years by the Empire Club of Canada. The Foundation ensures these archives remain freely available to students, educators, journalists, and anyone interested in Canada’s history.
Why it matters:
It preserves the words and ideas that have shaped the nation and serves as a living record that connects people to the past, informs today’s conversations and inspires tomorrow’s decisions.
The Time for action
is not some day,
IT IS NOW
%
68% of Canadian
youth aged 18–34
report a lack of
community
belonging.¹
As of May 2024, the
youth unemployment
rate in Canada was
14%, more than
double the national
rate of 6.3%.²
1 in 4
1 in 4 youth feel very
pessimistic about their
future in Canada.³ ⁴
%
Only 31% of youth
report having a
mentor or trusted
adult to guide their
goals.⁵
%
Racialized individuals
make up 21.9% of
Canada’s population
but hold only 10.5%
of board positions
and 8.6% of senior
management roles.⁶
%
Barriers to Accessing
Mentors: 38% of young
adults in Canada
reported facing barriers
to accessing mentors
during their middle and
high school years.⁷
See the potential of our work
Why Us, Why Now?
A Platform For Impact
The Empire Club Foundation stands at the crossroads of influence, education, and opportunity.
By leveraging our platform, legacy, and access to real world experience, we are uniquely positioned to create a direct pipeline from potential to tangible impact.