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Company of Young CanadiansThe Company of Young Canadians (CYC) was a federal program established in 1966 to encourage social, economic and community development in Canada. It was inspired by the U.S. Peace Corps, and was initially intended to be run autonomously without government direction. Its aim was to facilitate youth involvement in society by providing guidance, training, projects, and a small paid stipend to individuals involved in local improvements. Critics also suggested that the CYC was established to co-opt rebellious youth away from radical action by diverting their energies into government-funded projects. This issue was a frequent topic of discussion, and source of tension, among CYC project staff, with some arguing that it was possible to use government money in pursuit of radical goals, while others were sceptical that this was possible or desirable. The CYC employee who achieved the highest level of prominence was David DePoe, who worked in the Yorkville area of Toronto, then best known as a gathering place for hippies. DePoe emerged as a public spokesperson for hippies who were involved in confrontations with the police in the summer of 1967, leading the mainstream media to portray the Company of Young Canadians as a collection of radicals bent on confrontation with the ‘establishment.’ The CYC generated more controversy in 1969 when municipal officials from Montreal, including Major Jean Drapeau, accused the CYC of harbouring “terrorists” – a claim for which no evidence was ever produced. In 1970 the Pierre Trudeau Liberal government took over the administration of the CYC, but friction developed between CYC volunteers and head office in Ottawa. One of the most notable successes of the CYC was its co-sponsorship of the National Film Board’s “Indian Film Crew” in 1968, which became the NFB’s first foray into filmmaking by First Nations in Canada. During the 1970s, CYC funding coincided with other federal programs such as the Local Initiatives Project and Opportunities for Youth. In 1976-77, the CYC was formally abolished. Related Reading Related Topics |
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