Ontario Youth Gathering Scheduled

APRIL 4, 2023: IMPORTANT UPDATE from the AOYC website:
It's with deep sadness that we share that we've made the very difficult decision to cancel AOYC 2023. We recognise the disappointment that this decision brings, and hope that you'll join us in praying for all who share the pain of this announcement.
For more information see www.allontario.com/#aoyc-2023

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Plans are under way for the 2023 All Ontario Youth Convention (AOYC) to take place May 27-28, 2023, at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ont.

For nearly 50 years, the popular gathering for high school youth has drawn hundreds of teens from around the province for several days of worship, learning, and fun each May. Usually a four-day event taking advantage of a long weekend, the convention was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022 the event returned as a scaled-back, one-day event, considering some ongoing pandemic-related restrictions. This year the convention will run as a two-day event.

Participants are encouraged to attend with an adult mentor such as a youth leader, pastor, parent, or other supportive presence. “We believe that discipleship happens in long-term relationships, and we want to support the good work that God is already doing in the lives of teens,” states the AOYC website.

The early-bird price for the event, $75 (or $100 after April 1), includes programming and some meals on the weekend, but not accommodations. Groups and individuals can book lodging in dorms on the Laurier campus, reserve rooms at a local hotel, or make other arrangements. The worship and learning sessions will happen Saturday, May 27, from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m., and on Sunday from 10 a.m. till 6 p.m. The event’s organizers said that financial aid is also available if attendees need it.

The theme of this year’s AOYC is “What Matters?” Speakers will reflect on Psalm 119:37: “Turn me from worthless things. Give me life through your word.”

In their invitation to young people, AOYC leaders note, “In an age of political divisions, climate catastrophes, leadership failures, and surface level interactions all around, it’s hard to believe that anyone cares about what counts.”

In response to the struggles and discouragement of recent years, they encourage teens, “Come together. Meet with hundreds of other teens to stare down your fears, your doubts, and your questions. Courageously approach them head on, and do it in community. See if God has something to say about it all.”