Destination Canada’s three-year Legacy & Impact Study highlights the long-term economic, social and environmental benefits of major events hosted in Canada. This case study examines the legacy of the One Young World (OYW) Summit, held in Montréal/Tiohtià:ke from September 18 to 21, 2024. Connecting emerging leaders from around the globe, the Summit catalyzed youth-led action on the world’s most pressing challenges.
At its core, the Summit reflected OYW’s mission to develop leaders with integrity who are equipped to drive positive change. The organization aims to build a fair and sustainable future for all by identifying and connecting young leaders from every country, inspiring them to increase their impact, building their skills and capacity, and elevating their profiles locally and globally.
At the Summit, young leaders worked together to advance solutions to the 2024 Plenary Challenges: Indigenous Voices, the Climate and Ecological Crisis, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Health Equality, and Peace. Beyond the four days in Montréal, the event also provided a year-long leadership journey—preparing delegates through the Global Leadership Programme, a six-month digital series offering leadership lessons and deepening understanding of the Summit’s core themes.
Other highlights of the Summit included the annual Leadership Awards, recognizing young politicians, entrepreneurs, journalists and campaigners, and the Lead2030 Awards, providing funding for young people working to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
Role of the Destination Marketing Organization
Montréal’s selection as the host was a natural fit, given its reputation for diversity, innovation and social engagement. The city’s success was driven by strategic collaboration between corporate, governmental and community stakeholders, with its multicultural identity and thriving economic ecosystem strengthening its bid to bring together young leaders.
Tourisme Montréal, the city’s destination marketing organization, coordinated the competitive bid process and strategically facilitated connections between OYW and key local stakeholders across government, corporate and community sectors. In partnership with the Palais des Congrès de Montréal, they ensured seamless coordination of this large-scale international event. The Palais served dual roles as both the carbon-neutral main venue and the provider of essential logistical support throughout the Summit.
Palais des Congrès de Montréal. Photo Credit: One Young World
Legacy Intentions
The Summit was designed to:
- Strengthen global youth leadership by connecting delegates with peers, mentors and influential world leaders.
- Empower Indigenous voices through the inaugural Indigenous Youth Day, co-created with the OYW Indigenous Council.
- Advance the UN SDGs via the Plenary Challenges and 63 targeted workshops hosted by the following local organizations: Care Canada, Deloitte, Eau daCité, Factry, Fairtrade Canada, Global Shapers Montreal, Government of Canada, Je suis Montréal, INM (Institut du Nouveau Monde), and Novartis.
- Foster measurable social impact by equipping delegates with the tools, networks and funding to launch or scale their initiatives.
- Leave a long-term local legacy through partnerships, cultural exchange and continued collaboration with Canadian youth leaders.
Photo Credit: One Young World
Key Outcomes
1. Global Leadership and Collaboration
The numbers tell an impressive story: more than 2,500 in-person attendees from more than 190 countries participated. This included 554 Scholars—delegates whose attendance was fully-funded by OYW in partnership with global corporations, to ensure young people from every country are represented, regardless of their ability to pay.
The Summit featured more than 200 speakers, including Margaret Atwood, David Suzuki, Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa.
Then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also participated in the Summit, spending four hours engaging directly with young leaders, including a fireside chat with globally-renowned Canadian AI expert Yoshua Bengio, in which he highlighted Canada’s $2.4 billion investment in artificial intelligence and the country’s leadership in responsible AI development.
But it’s the connections that really mattered: 96.9 per cent of delegates reported gaining a platform to discuss their work with potential collaborators, and the Summit facilitated 3,027 unique one-to-one or small group connections through structured networking.
Canadian AI expert Yoshua Bengio (left) and Canadian Prime Minister
Justin Trudeau (right) speaking at One Young World.
Photo Credit: One Young World
2. Indigenous Youth Empowerment
The first Indigenous Youth Day brought together 100 attendees from 60 Indigenous communities across 30 countries. Sessions addressed environmental stewardship, cultural and language revitalization, and trauma-to-healing practices. Attendees described the event as a deeply empowering and identity-affirming experience.
“It was a space where Indigenous voices were not just heard, but truly celebrated. Being surrounded by fellow Indigenous youth, all united in our shared mission to preserve our cultures, protect our lands and uplift our communities, was an incredibly empowering experience.” – 2024 Delegate
3. Social and Environmental Impact
The true power of the One Young World Summit is its role as a catalyst for long-term, tangible change. This is best demonstrated by the ongoing work of its global community. Since 2010, initiatives led by the Summit attendees (also known as OYW Ambassadors) have cumulatively reached 8.15 million people and generated more than $747 million in social value (measured in international dollars, adjusted for purchasing power parity). According to OYW’s Impact Report, this translates to an average social return on investment (SROI) of $16 for every $1 invested—a remarkable return that demonstrates the power of equipping young leaders with a platform, network and skills.
The environmental action sparked by the community is equally significant, with Ambassador-led initiatives having mitigated more than 1.31 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. This includes innovations in clean water, renewable energy, health equity and climate resilience emerging from programs like Lead2030, showing how the connections made at the Summit translate into real environmental action for years to come.
4. Professional and Personal Development
The 2024 Summit’s impact on individual participants was equally impressive, empowering each of its unique contributors: Counsellors—world-renowned leaders who use their spotlight to inspire action, Delegates—the young leaders attending the Summit and Ambassadors—the global network of alumni equipped to drive change long after the closing ceremony.
A survey revealed the following feedback:
- 96.9% of Delegates reported that the Summit gave them a platform to discuss their work with potential collaborators or like-minded people.
- 94.1% of Delegates said the Summit assisted their professional development.
- 74,847 scholarship applications were received, 554 scholarships were awarded, and 47 partners supported Scholars.
- 96.3% of Scholars reported that the Summit improved their leadership capacity.
5. Community Integration and Local Impact
The Summit’s success in Montréal was built on strong community foundations. Montréal-based experiential agency Yulism played a crucial role in connecting local organizations, government bodies and sponsors to ensure the city’s active participation, with volunteer recruitment and community programs serving as key pillars to ensure local youth were meaningfully involved. Workshops and activities provided delegates with a platform to connect directly with Montréal-based organizations, ensuring authentic local engagement that went beyond the Summit itself.
As Stéphane Martel, founder and CEO of Yulism, noted, the Summit empowered local youth by involving them in community-driven projects and entrepreneurial activities, highlighting that fostering youth leadership is critical for maintaining a sustainable event legacy.
Geneviève Leclerc, CEO and co-founder of #MEET4IMPACT, emphasized that ”impact measurement was embedded into the Summit’s design from the beginning,” ensuring collaboration with Québec’s government, Destination Canada and Tourisme Montréal to amplify the event’s reach. This strategic approach meant that both economic and social benefits were tracked, with the Summit’s legacy extending beyond immediate outcomes to focus on long-term social impact through consistent monitoring and follow-up initiatives.
6. A Commitment to Sustainability and Inclusivity
The Summit embedded sustainability into its operations, leveraging the carbon-neutral Palais des Congrès de Montréal venue, which was within walking distance of most other Summit locations. Conference organizers also reduced single-use plastics, opting for reusable drink bottles and wooden cutlery instead, and ensured all catering was locally sourced in recyclable containers. Exhibition stands used reusable materials, and surplus food was donated to local food banks. All these efforts reflected OYW’s ISO 20121 certification, an international standard governing sustainable event management created by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
Accessibility was equally prioritized. Organizers provided international sign language at key events, closed captioning was available on presentation stages, delegates had access to quiet rooms and prayer spaces, and personalized transport schedules were provided where needed.
Palais des Congrès de Montréal. Photo Credit: One Young World
Conclusion
The One Young World Summit 2024 exemplifies how a major international gathering can spark sustained global change. By empowering young leaders with the skills, networks and resources to act, the event created a legacy that continues to influence communities worldwide.
As Bradley Amir, Coordinating Ambassador for OYW Canada, witnessed firsthand, delegates became active changemakers, with many committing to causes like climate action and human rights advocacy. The Summit inspired and encouraged delegates to pursue leadership roles and amplify their voices on international platforms, creating a ripple effect that extends far beyond Montréal.
It ensured that delegates left not only feeling deeply motivated, but also with the integrity, mission, capacity and global community needed to deliver long-term, sustainable impact in their home countries. This transformation from participant to changemaker represents the true measure of the Summit’s success.
Through its combination of visionary dialogue, tangible skill building, and deep cultural exchange, the Summit has reinforced Montréal’s reputation as a global meeting place where ideas are transformed into action. The event’s measurable outcomes are a testament to the power of bringing diverse voices together to tackle shared challenges. Perhaps most importantly, it has proven that when young leaders are given the platform, tools and community they need, they don’t just dream of change—they create it.
Further Reading:
Insects to Feed the World Case Study
CitiesIPCC Cities and Climate Change Science Conference Case Study
Destination Canada Business Events Legacy & Impact Study
