Celebrating Young Leaders
Honoring Passion, Innovation, and Resilience of Young Changemakers!
About the Awards
The 21 Under 21 Youth Awards Gala presented by RBC is a staple event organized by Youth Ottawa to recognize and celebrate young people. Rebranded from the Spirit of the Capital Awards, the event honours 21 local youth each year, 14-21 years of age who have made a significant contribution to their local or global community and who show initiative, enthusiasm, and leadership.
This year’s event will take place at the Sir John A MacDonald building in October 2025. The event will feature a mocktail hour, photo booth areas, awards presentations, youth performances, multimedia displays showcasing the work of our city’s young people, and more!
Event Details
Mocktail Reception
Enjoy a refreshing selection of mocktails as we kick off the evening. In keeping with our celebration of the achievements of our community's youth, we are proudly offering a non-alcoholic experience. This is a chance to mingle, network, and toast to the inspiring young leaders of our city with a variety of delicious, alcohol-free beverages.
Seated Dinner
Indulge in a delectable seated meal while enjoying the awards ceremony with municipal leaders, community members, friends, and family.
Awards Ceremony
The highlight of the evening, our Awards Ceremony, will honour and celebrate 21 exceptional young leaders who have made a significant impact in our community. Join us as we recognize their achievements and hear their inspiring stories. This moment is a tribute to their hard work, dedication, and the bright future ahead. Be prepared to be moved and inspired by the incredible talent and passion of our youth.
Nominations for the 2025 Awards Opening Soon!
Get ready! Nominations for the will open in late Spring 2025. This is your chance to recognize outstanding youth who are making a difference in their communities. Whether you’re a leader, changemaker, or dedicated volunteer—or you know someone who is—you can submit a nomination for yourself or someone else between the ages of 14-21.
In the meantime, take a look back at the inspiring youth award recipients from the 2024 year, and see the incredible impact young people are having in Ottawa. Their stories showcase the power of youth leadership, innovation, and community service.
Stay tuned for updates, and start thinking about the incredible young change makers you want to nominate!
Meet the 2024 Recipients
Youth Ottawa is proud to celebrate the remarkable journeys of young individuals who excel across a wide range of fields, from academics and leadership to community service, arts, and environmental advocacy.
As we gear up to honor the 2024 recipients of the 21 Under 21 Awards, meet the incredible youth who have inspired change, given back to their communities, and demonstrated exceptional leadership.
"The Awards had a huge impact on my career, education and overall life. Through the support and network I was able to launch my community work to another level. And through the visibility and recognition I have received additional financial support and distinction. For instance, shortly after receiving this award I became one of only 20 McCall MacBain scholars ‘22 at McGill University. I feel none of this would have been possible without the visibility and support of the RBC Youth Award. I consider it to be a milestone in my journey to becoming an advocate, entrepreneur, and physician-researcher."
Support Young Emerging Leaders
As leaders in the community, this is a unique opportunity for you to celebrate and give back to tomorrow’s leaders! Download our information package to learn more about the different ways you can get involved with the awards.
Thank You to our Sponsors
Alumni Stories
Hear from past spirit alumni! Alumni share what the awards meant to them and their work in the community.