Our Vision and The Road Ahead
At Green Mind, our vision is rooted in a simple yet powerful belief: that no young person should feel alone in caring for the earth. We imagine a future where emotional literacy is embedded in every conversation about climate change, where communities across Canada recognize the emotional weight of environmental loss, and where every youth, regardless of where they live or who they are, feels seen, supported, and empowered.
We believe that climate resilience must include emotional resilience. This means building systems that do not just inform but also care. It means recognizing that youth are not empty vessels waiting to be filled with information. They are already deeply aware of what is happening in the world around them. What they often lack is space to process their feelings, tools to stay grounded, and community to share the journey.
In the future we are working toward, schools will not separate science from emotion. Mental health education will include climate grief, ecological loss, and intergenerational hope. Indigenous knowledge will not be treated as supplementary content but will serve as a guiding framework for healing, land stewardship, and relational care. Youth-led initiatives will not be isolated or symbolic. They will be central to how we build new systems of wellness, policy, and justice.
We envision a Canada where climate wellness is not a luxury but a right. In this future, youth growing up in wildfire-prone towns, northern communities, or low-income neighbourhoods will have access to culturally grounded programs that reflect their lived experiences. They will not be left behind because of geography, identity, or income. Instead, they will be trusted to lead, supported in healing, and included in decision-making at every level.
Our path forward is shaped by three long-term priorities.
First, we are scaling our reach. With support from community foundations, public grants, and national partners, we are expanding our team of youth coordinators across multiple provinces. These coordinators will bring Green Mind’s programs to schools, cultural centres, and wellness spaces in their own regions. By decentralizing our delivery model, we are ensuring that our work remains grounded in local realities while building a strong national network of support.
Second, we are investing in sustainable leadership. In 2026, we will be launching a national facilitator training program that will prepare youth to lead climate wellness workshops in their own communities. This training will include mentorship from Elders, artists, educators, and mental health professionals, as well as opportunities to co-create curriculum, speak at conferences, and support their peers in times of need. Our goal is not only to reach more youth, but to equip more youth to lead this work long after our involvement ends.
Third, we are working to embed climate wellness into broader systems. We are developing curriculum tools that can be used by educators in public and independent schools. We are consulting with health professionals on how to integrate climate anxiety into youth mental health assessments. We are building relationships with university programs, government advisors, and community coalitions to ensure that emotional care is recognized as an essential part of climate justice.
Our work is not linear, and our goals are not fixed. We are learning in real time. We are listening to what communities are telling us. We are adapting based on the feedback of young people who trust us enough to share their stories. We are committed to walking at a pace that respects community readiness, cultural protocols, and the emotional labour required to heal while acting.
Looking ahead, we know that the challenges are real. Climate change will continue to impact the land, the air, and the lives of those who are already most vulnerable. But we also know that within every challenge is the possibility of transformation. We have seen what happens when youth are given space to speak honestly, to feel deeply, and to act with purpose. We have witnessed resilience that is rooted not in toughness, but in tenderness. We have seen healing that begins with a simple invitation: tell us what is on your heart.
Green Mind will continue to grow in partnership with the youth who inspire us, the communities who guide us, and the land that sustains us. We will continue to create space for grief, for anger, for love, for joy, and for belonging. We will continue to build programs, tools, and relationships that honour emotional truth and cultural wisdom.
This work is not only about saving the planet. It is about protecting the dreams, the voices, and the wellbeing of the young people who are rising to care for it. It is about ensuring that no one has to carry this alone. It is about reminding ourselves and each other that care is a form of power, and that healing is part of the path forward.
Together, we are shaping a future where every young person can feel rooted, resilient, and ready to rise.