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Lakehead Public Schools reaffirms its commitment to Planet Youth

Feb 26, 2026

United Way of Thunder Bay held a signing ceremony at City Hall Friday, February 20 to signify the official launch of Planet Youth Thunder Bay – a prevention model designed and proven to reduce or delay substance use among young people and support youth well-being.

United Way was joined by Mayor Ken Boshcoff, members of city council, and local partner organizations to officially sign the Declaration of Support, reaffirming their commitment to youth wellbeing in the community. Signatories of the Declaration include:

  • United Way of Thunder Bay
  • City of Thunder Bay
  • Thunder Bay and District Health Unit
  • Lakehead University
  • Matawa Education and Care Centre
  • Lakehead Public School Board
  • Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board
  • CSDC des Aurores boréales

“This signing ceremony marks a public launch of the movement and a chance for key foundational partners to affirm their support, but perhaps more importantly, it affirms that youth wellbeing is a collective responsibility,” says United Way of Thunder Bay CEO, Albert Brulé. “Thunder Bay is joining several other Canadian communities working to adapt this model in their local context. Together, we’re building a shared culture of prevention across the country and working collaboratively as a multi-sector unified team within our community to invest in young people.”

Planet Youth is inspired by the Icelandic Prevention Model (IPM) which focuses on changing the wider social factors preventing youth from living happy, healthy lives, while ensuring that its principles are adapted thoughtfully and collaboratively to reflect the unique cultural, social, and environmental realities of Thunder Bay.

“By signing on to advance Planet Youth, Thunder Bay is reaffirming our commitment to prevention and partnership,” says City of Thunder Bay Mayor, Ken Boshcoff. “Youth wellbeing is a collective responsibility, and this initiative brings together schools, families, service providers, and community leaders to take coordinated, data-informed action. Working together, we can create the conditions for young people in Thunder Bay to thrive.”

The Declaration of Support lists the following commitments:

  1. Exploration & Collaboration – Engaging in open discussions and working together across sectors to identify evidence-informed prevention strategies that are relevant and effective for Thunder Bay.
  2. Awareness & Education – Sharing knowledge and resources to help promote an understanding of prevention approaches, including those of the Planet Youth model, within our networks.
  3. Cultural & Community Responsiveness – Ensuring that diverse perspectives, especially Indigenous voices, are at the center of discussions about how prevention strategies are shaped and implemented in our community.

“Planet Youth is a community-wide, evidence-based, primary prevention approach to creating healthier environments for young people”, says Dr. Janet DeMille, Medical Officer of Health, Thunder Bay District Health Unit. “By investing upstream and strengthening protective factors early in life, we’re not only improving outcomes for youth — we’re building a healthier, more resilient community for everyone.”

For more information on Planet Youth Thunder Bay, visit uwaytbay.ca/planetyouth.