McCann Worldgroup Canada and FH Studio worked pro bono on the project to enlist Canadian celebrities to the cause. “We’d like to thank McCann and FH Studio for their great contribution to this campaign,” said Morley. “By bringing together dozens of Canadian celebrities to speak up on key issues affecting youth well-being, we hope more Canadians will feel the urge to act, and governments will continue their momentum to create great conditions for growing up.”

UNICEF Canada’s One Youth is working with partners and youth to build the new gold standard for measuring children’s well-being customized to the Canadian experience, and developing and testing new solutions to the challenges they face. It is calling on Canadians to take action and to aim higher for children and youth. This is one of the organization’s first campaigns highlighting issues right here at home.

“The time has come to leave the status quo behind and speak up for and with kids across the country,” said Morley. “By bringing together dozens of Canadian celebrities to speak up on key issues affecting youth, we hope more Canadians will feel the urge to act, and governments will continue their momentum to create great conditions for growing up.”

One Youth is currently funded in partnership with the Lyle S. Hallman Foundation, the Lawson Foundation and Intact Foundation.

UNICEF Key Findings

• Canada is ranked 32^nd out of 41 countries in children who are living at or below the poverty level. In fact, one in five Canadian children live at or below the poverty level; for perspective, children in Korea, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, Australia and Germany all fair better on this measure than children in Canada do.
• Canada comes in almost dead last in ensuring reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food for children, at 37^th out of 41 countries. In fact, one in six Canadian children live with some level of food insecurity every day.
• Canada places 31^st in teen suicide, even higher than the United States.
• Canada is ranked 29^th in unhealthy weight. In fact, one in four Canadian teens is overweight or obese, similar to the results in the United States.
• Although we consider ourselves a peaceful and tolerant nation, Canada has the 5^th-highest rate of bullying among the measured countries in the study.

Quotes

“We want this campaign to be a real wake-up call for Canada, to change things for our future. For a positive future we simply have to do better for kids today.”
- Pascal DeDecker, Executive Creative Director at McCann Montreal

“Child poverty is one of the most pressing issues affecting Canada. As one of our key philanthropic investment areas, we support initiatives like UNICEF’s One Youth movement to help find innovative and impact-driven solutions, so that, together, we will build communities where all children can thrive.”
- Monika Federau, Chief Strategy Officer at Intact Financial Corporation

“One Youth is important because it sheds light on the issues that affect young people in Canada. It looks at how we can improve the lives of youth in Canada and make our great country the best place to live. Young people in Canada need a platform to vocalize the issues that affect us and our communities. One Youth gives us hope for a better future.”
- Olivia Lam, 17, Student

“Canada is increasingly perceived on the world scene as a country that is ready and willing to provide leadership on important societal issues. While that may be true, as we attempt to play such a role, we need to address the challenges that confront so many of our children and youth here at home. And we need to do it now! One Youth is a major national initiative that will help us do just that.”
- Marcel Lauziere, President and CEO, The Lawson Foundation

“Canada is long overdue for a national conversation about what we want for our kids, and what it will take to get there. We see One Youth as a disruptive and dynamic way to spark that conversation, creating space for the voices of children and youth themselves to lead the dialogue. Let’s talk about what Canada is really like for young people. Let’s listen. Let’s act.”
- Laura Manning, Executive Director, Lyle S Hallman Foundation

“When I read the statistics about poverty, food security, suicide, and bullying in Canada…I was shocked. As Canadians we can do better – we must do better for our children. They’re our future – and far too many are being left behind.”
- Cobie Smulders, Actress

About UNICEF Canada’s One Youth
From 25th to 1st place, UNICEF Canada’s One Youth is working to make Canada the best place in the world to grow up in. As the global UN agency for kids, UNICEF has worked to improve conditions for every child around the world for more than 70 years, and has saved more children’s lives than any other humanitarian organization. UNICEF Canada’s One Youth brings that work to Canada, by building the new gold standard for measuring child well-being, and developing and testing innovative solutions to the challenges they face. We are calling on Canadians to take action and do better for children and youth.

UNICEF is supported entirely by voluntary donations. For more information about UNICEF Canada’s One Youth, please visit http://www.oneyouthcanada.ca. For updates, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

About McCann Worldgroup Canada
McCann Worldgroup Canada (MWGC) is a leading integrated marketing communications agency comprised of McCann (advertising), MRM//McCann (digital marketing/relationship management), Momentum Worldwide (total brand experience), McCann Health (professional/dtc communications) and CRAFT (global adaptation and production).  With offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal, the agency has been continuously ranked among the top in Canada since 1915.  We are part of the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG). MWGC creates meaningful roles for brands in people’s lives and improves the performance and influence of their clients. www.mccann.ca

For additional Information and/or interviews, please contact:

Stefanie Carmichael
UNICEF Canada
[email protected]
416-482-6552 ext. 8866

Caroline Murphy
McCann Worldgroup Canada
[email protected] 
416-846-8829