Ymca Youth Gambling Project
- Ymca Youth Gambling Project Runway
- Ymca Youth Gambling Project Schedule
- Ymca Youth Gambling Project Guidelines
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On June 7, we celebrated the top 3 contestants in our Award Ceremony for the annual Youth 4 Youth Digital Media Contest. The contest encourages youth between the ages of 18 and 24 to raise awareness of youth gambling, youth problem gambling, and the support resources available to them.
This year’s topic was the blurred lines between gambling and gaming. Contestants were asked to create a poster and video that would shine a light on the topic among their peers. A panel of contest organizers, a jury of youth volunteers (ages 15-18), and a public voting period were used to select the winners.
Here’s what our winners had to say about the contest:
1st place winner: exposing misconceptions about online poker games
Lucas Watts won first place with his video submission that exposes how online poker games are very similar to other video games played by youth. These similarities blur the lines between gambling and gaming. Lucas’ video demonstrates the potential risks of online poker apps if harm reduction strategies are not used and points viewers to the YMCA of Greater Toronto’s Youth Gambling Awareness Program.
Lucas, who is originally from Brantford, Ontario, developed an interest in videography and photography while he was a student at the University of Ottawa, where he studied philosophy and psychology.
Before participating in the contest, Lucas knew about some of the risks of online poker games since some of his friends play them. But he didn’t realize these risks posed problems for many youths.
The contest also helped Lucas discover what he is truly capable of accomplishing when he sets his mind to something.
“The lesson is that if you [commit] to something, it can pay off and work out,” says Lucas.
2nd place winner: exploring the ways gambling is embedded in video games
Charlotte Durnford-Dionne and Hailey Asquin of Team Huron St. Creative won second place with their video that reveals the ways that gambling is embedded into video games.
Both Charlotte and Hailey are recent graduates from OCAD University in Toronto, where Charlotte studied advertising and Hailey studied graphic design. Participating in the contest allowed Charlotte to create video content for the first time and Hailey, who taught herself videography and photography in her first year of university, was excited by the opportunity to work with Charlotte on a creative project.
Participating in the contest opened Hailey and Charlotte’s eyes to the entire sector of gambling. They now know why spending money to open loot boxes or paying for a second chance at a level in a video game can be considered gambling activities. The team has also learned ways to reduce the harm associated with these activities, like setting time and money limits.
Both teammates say the contest helped them feel more knowledgeable and comfortable when discussing gambling and gaming.
“I am not a gamer, so this was an area of knowledge I was lacking in. I also had never made a video before, so that was a whole new skill I learned,” says Charlotte.
“If the topic of gambling and gaming came up in conversation, I would feel more equipped to talk about it,” says Hailey.
3rd place winner: a closer look at Freemium Model games
In their video, best friends Sarah Wilson and Brian Mestdagh from London, Ontario discussed how Freemium Models are a form of gambling. Freemium Models allow players to pay for additional chances at levels in games. But because the outcome of the level is still random, players are risking something of value.
Sarah, who works as a freelance videographer and as a certified sales specialist at Best Buy, has represented her high school in regional and provincial videography contests. In September, Sarah will be continuing her education at Fanshawe College for TV Broadcasting and Film Production.
Ymca Youth Gambling Project Runway
Brian is currently enrolled in Fanshawe College for Police Foundations and also works as a Sony master and salesperson at Henry’s Camera Store. He has been a visual creator for many years and has worked at events like the Juno Awards.
“When we saw the topic was gambling, we immediately thought of poker and casinos…Now, we understand that gambling activities can be hidden in everyday activities that we [participate] in like video games and online games,” says Brian.
Brian explains that the team also “learned how to receive feedback and apply it to effectively get a message across” through participating in the contest.
Sarah adds the contest also helped them discover what direction they want to go in the future with their passion for filmmaking.
Register for the next round of the contest
Use your creativity to raise awareness of gambling issues! Registration opens on August 15, 2019, for the next round of the Youth 4 Youth Digital Media Contest.
The YMCA Community Action Network (YCAN) gives youth a platform so they can lead service projects that make a real difference in their local communities. Over the past several months, YCAN groups across the country have pivoted to meet new needs emerging in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. The group at the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka exemplifies the compassion and commitment to community that’s at the heart of YCAN. Here is their story:
Months ago, our group was excitedly planning a two-pronged service project for August 2020. We had booked a booth at the annual Alliston Potato Festival, where we were going to collect donations to our local food bank. Food security is an important issue for our group, so we wanted to do something tangible to support our community members who don’t have reliable access to food.
Another issue that’s important to us is mental health. Unfortunately, in the Alliston area, there’s a shortage of education about and resources to help support mental health. So we reached out to the Krasman Centre, a not-for-profit that provides education, resources, and one-on-one mental health support. They were excited to partner with us so that we could give something back to all the people who would be dropping off non-perishables at our booth. We made our very own pamphlet with mental health resources to hand out, and we also designed special glow-in-the-dark bracelets that read “L;fe.” The semi-colon is a symbol of survival. For those suffering with mental health issues, suicidal ideations, and self-harm, it can be an inspiring reminder of endurance. For more information about Project Semicolon, please visit https://projectsemicolon.com. We thought the bracelets made for a striking visual that would spark a conversation.
In March, as the COVID-19 crisis escalated, we quickly realized our service project had to change. Our community needed help now; we couldn’t wait until August.
Ymca Youth Gambling Project Schedule
One of the biggest needs we saw was support for the frontline workers whose dedication and bravery were helping the rest of us stay safe and healthy. We wanted to show our gratitude for their tireless commitment and, coupled with some hand-made “thank you” cards, our bracelets seemed like the perfect token of our appreciation. Their glow reminds wearers that they are a light in the darkness of this crisis, and that semi-colon is a reminder of their determination and perseverance during this difficult time.
We also realized that we could reach far beyond Alliston and show frontline workers in many different communities our support. Hospital foundations in Orillia, Huntsville, Bracebridge, and Barrie have helped us get our bracelets and cards into the hands of their frontline workers.
Ymca Youth Gambling Project Guidelines
We’re so proud to be part of a network of change-makers like these young leaders from the Simcoe/Muskoka YCAN group. Thank you for your compassion and hard work! If you’re feeling inspired and want to get involved with any of our 17 YCAN groups across Canada, check out our website.