The 2023 CoLab Program

The CoLab Program is an innovation accelerator that helps the next generation of change makers build an idea. Throughout the 10-week program, social entrepreneurs from across the nation will work collaboratively to come up with a minimally viable solution to some of our most pressing problems.

Participants will get access to industry and impact experts who will mentor them through the ideation process. The goal of the program is to create truly meaningful change in our communities.​

Applications for the 2023 CoLab Program open on May 8, 2023.​
Apply now
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This Year’s Challenge​

Youth today face several systemic challenges that have been caused and contributed to by previous generations, inadvertently placing an unprecedented amount of burden on them.

The Mental Health Crisis

Many mental healthcare systems in Canada currently in place lack the competence to address the harms, traumas and complexities related to mental health that communities in Canada face.

Sub-Focus Areas​

Accessibility and navigation of mental health services

Investigating mental healthcare systemic barriers and design constraints of cost, treatment modalities, technology, support systems, and the patient journey.

Stigma and misinformation around mental health

Examining the approaches to de-stigmatizing and educating groups, including but not limited to families, communities, individuals, youth, and the general public, on mental health and mental illness.

Diversity and cultural sensitivity in mental health resources

Recognizing the nuances of intersectionality that affect mental health and the barriers to appropriate mental health resources, including cultural sensitivities, diverse approaches to treatment and care, available languages, inclusivity, and equity.

Inclusive and evidence-based research on mental health

Focusing on mental health evaluations and research methods that are grounded in inclusive, up-to-date, and politically unbiased data.

Amazing Opportunity

The CoLab Program is open to next-gen leaders aged 18-29. Participants must go through an approximately 10-week program to create a minimally viable solution. As part of the program, participants will take part in three Challenge Sessions – focused on inspired learning from keynote speakers – and three Co-Creation Sessions – focused on collaboration and mentorship from industry experts.

$500

Honorarium to participants for completing the program ​

$50,000+

Grants & Awards & Access to In-kind Start-Up Services

This money will be distributed across multiple successful ideas.

Mentorship

With entrepreneurship, industry, and academic experts​
Apply Now
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2023 CoLab Program Speakers

Participants will attend three virtual co-creation and challenge sessions that emboldened and reframed their thinking around this year’s sub-focus areas.

2023 CoLab Program Mentors

Participants will work with mentors and peers to co-create solutions to specific challenge spaces. CoLab mentors bring experience, guidance, and additional perspective to foster meaningful ideation.

Our Partners

2023 CoLab Program Details

When is it?

  • Event duration: approximately 10 weeks
  • Start date: July 6, 2023​
  • End date: August 21, 2023​
  • Awards date: September 14, 2023

Who can join?

  • Registration is open to youth 18-29 years old
  • Background: interest in the Mental Health Crisis in Canada; volunteer experience or participated in related NGOs (not mandatory)
  • Registration fee: no
  • Groups: participants can sign up individually or with peers
Apply Now
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2022 CoLab Program Highlights

The CoLab is an innovation accelerator that helps the next generation of leaders, activists, innovators, entrepreneurs and critical thinkers, who are providing business solutions to Canada’s most pressing problems by offering them access to investment and mentorship via industry and academic experts. The 2022 CoLab Program was a huge success! Watch the video above to learn more.

The amazing CoLab Program participants had access to leading Canadian thought leaders as mentors as they honed their design thinking and problem solving skills. They attended two inspiration sessions led by dynamic speakers and activists, as well as many co-creation sessions led by an impressive group of mentors. Participants collaborated together to produce actionable ideas to make real change happen now. All participants who completed the program requirements received a $750 honorarium. Congratualtions to all participants of the 2022 CoLab Program!

2022 CoLab Program Participants

Adam Salaam
Adolphina Wilson
Aileen-Vu Tran
Amit Sharma
Ampai Thammachack
Anagha Vadarevu
Anita Samra
Anthony Hope
Ashwini Selvakumaran
Cher Peng
Chloe White
Connor MacLean
Dilynn Kehlr
Dylan Hubble
Eman Abdelrasoul
Erin Rebello
Faiz Jan
Fikayo Aderoju
Gabrielle Awellano
Hadiqa Shaikh
Hailey Rodgers
Hriday Keshav
Hui Huang
Issac Petonoquot
Jessie Brar
Joshan Gill
Julia Lukas
Kari Guo
Katherine McDougall
Katrina Ouellette
Kirsten Kelly
Max Manglal-Lan
Mesgna Mesgna
Mishika Khurana
Natasha Graham
Natasha Ing
Priyanshu Mahey
Ripdaman Malhans
Rohan Birk
Samantha Passfield
Samuel Perez Alvarado
Seleem Badawy
Tino Dogo
Tracey Gaydosh
Zach Wilkinson
Colab Participant Quote 2022

2022 CoLab Program Grant Recipients

This year’s CoLab Program distributed grant funding to selected proposals from a pool of $50,000. An esteemed panel of judges was carefully selected to review and asses each proposal based on criteria of viability, feasibility, desirability and impact.

Project Name

A Melanated Guide to Mental Health

Participant/s

Jessie Brar

Focus

Mental Health

Amount Granted

$6,000.00

Project Name

Purple Lotus

Participant/s

Priyanshu Mahey; Cher Peng

Focus

Mental Health

Amount Granted

$9,000.00

Project Name

Frontline Baddies

Participant/s

Tracey Gaydosh; Aileen Tran

Focus

Mental Health

Amount Granted

$9,000.00

Project Name

One Stop Mental Health Canada

Participant/s

Chloe White; Erin Robello

Focus

Mental Health

Amount Granted

$9,000.00

Project Name

Know Your Nation

Participant/s

Mesgna Mesgna

Focus

Misinformation

Amount Granted

$9,000.00

Project Name

Premis

Participant/s

Amit Sharma; Ripdaman Malhans;
Rohan Birk; Joshan Gill

Focus

Misinformation

Amount Granted

$8,000.00

2022 CoLab Program Mentors

Colab Participant Quote 2022
Colab Participant Quote 2022
Colab Participant Quote 2022
Colab Participant Quote 2022

Applications for the 2023 CoLab Program open on May 8, 2023.

Apply Now
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