Now, in its 27th year, the Spirit of the Capital has experienced an evolution, bringing forward newness and a fresh perspective. After years of planning and discussion, we are happy to introduce our Youth Awards Gala known as 21 under 21, dedicated to youth, re-vamped, and transformative. The new event will recognize 21 youth under the age of 21 who can nominate themselves or are nominated by individuals who have witnessed their dedication firsthand.

At its heart, the 21 Under 21 Youth Awards Gala will always remain true to the spirit of honoring the remarkable contributions made by local youth who have left an indelible mark on their communities, both locally and/or globally. These extraordinary individuals embody qualities of initiative, enthusiasm, and caring. They lean into the spirit of positive change and are a source of inspiration to others. By keeping our promise to honour them, and to reflect our dedication to inclusivity we have made the decision to remove award categories as we are committed to capturing the holistic recognition of young achievers, free from barriers.

In embracing this rebranding, Youth Ottawa reaffirms its core values of appreciating the spirit of youth, action, and the diverse journeys and achievements of young people, transcending conventional labels. We wholeheartedly believe in recognizing the full spectrum of youth accomplishments that bring about change, personal growth, or positive action and are committed to including every story and impact a youth may have had to make this world a better place.