A generation ready to lead
October 30, 2026
When young people are given the chance to dream, remarkable things happen. Across Alberta, youth are stepping up with fresh ideas, a passion for their communities, and a genuine commitment to the environment.
Through the Alberta Emerald Foundation’s Youth Grant Program, that passion is being transformed into meaningful action, giving young people the support they need to turn their ideas into real-world impact.
For more than 15 years, this program has been helping bring inspiration to life. This year alone, it provided more than $15,000 in funding to support 16 youth-led projects, reaching 7,523 young people across the province. Behind those numbers are thousands of moments of discovery, learning, leadership, and connection, demonstrating the enthusiasm of Alberta’s youth and the growing demand for opportunities that advance environmental stewardship.
What makes these projects so powerful is the opportunity they give young people to lead, solve problems, and create positive change. Participants learn that they aren’t too young to make a difference.
One example this year came from Airdrie, Alberta, where young people were inspired by an Emerald Documentary Series video about a previous Emerald Award recipient and decided to bring the idea to their own community. A group of 125 youth partnered with a local non-profit and grocers to rescue surplus food that would have gone to waste, instead redistributing it to community members, at no cost.
“They want to continue growing this project,” says Sabrina Huot-Boer, the foundation’s Communications & Programs Manager. “That’s part of the beauty of this program – welcoming participants back year after year and helping them expand their dreams. Taking ideas and making them tangible is truly what it’s all about.”
Stories like this are unfolding in communities across Alberta. Each year, funded projects help young people connect with science, nature, and beyond, while building leadership skills and confidence along the way.
This impact wouldn’t be possible without the support of dedicated sponsors. In 2025, Oil Sands Alliance became the program’s sole sponsor, helping ensure funding for impactful youth-led projects.
“The Oil Sands Alliance is honoured to sponsor this grant and play a role in helping thousands of young Albertans access environmental learning opportunities and bring their ideas to life,” says Navjeet Sidhu, Director, Strategic Engagement.
The success of this year’s applications also highlighted an important reality: demand is skyrocketing. With more than twice as many requests as the program could support, it’s become clear that Alberta’s young people are eager to engage with environmental challenges and contribute solutions.
Over the years, the program has developed a formula that works and the Alberta Emerald Foundation has been able to increase individual grants from $500 to up to $1,000, which is a huge impact for these small groups. It allows them to grow, share knowledge and get hands-on learning.
Reflecting on the program’s impact, Sabrina recounts a group’s visit to the Muttart Conservatory in Edmonton housing Canada’s largest indoor plant collection.
For more information on the program and how to apply, visit https://emeraldfoundation.ca/eygrants/.
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