CYWC stands for Canadian Youth Workers Community.
Originally beginning as a national conference, CYWC has grown over the past decade into a community of youth workers committed to helping the next generation see and experience the truth of Jesus Christ.
We gather together at our Regional Training Events, which started as a once a year national conference that rotated between Vancouver and Toronto led by Marv Penner. In 2013, Marv partnered with Sid Koop and Truth Matters Ministries, turning it into a regional conference in 6 different locations across Canada, expanding to 8 in 2017-18.
Locations

BC INTERIOR
KELOWNA

MANITOBA
WINNIPEG

QUEBEC
MONTREAL

ATLANTIC CANADA
MONCTON
Want to connect with CYWC?
Pre-Conference Intensive
Friday 9:00am-4:30pm- Designed to equip and empower you (the point youth worker) to lead your ministry in a greater way.
- A day of intense teaching from the front, with time to process around your tables. Bring your entire team to think together through the big picture issues in youth ministry.
Combo
Pre-Conference Intensive + Main Conference- THE BEST VALUE! The combo gets you into the entire event (Friday Pre-Conference Intensive and Main Conference)
You'll be able to dive into big picture issues on Friday during the day, refresh your soul on Friday evening in the Main Session, and equip yourself with super practical tools you can put into practice right away in Learning Labs on Saturday.
Main Conference
Friday Evening to Saturday Afternoon- Designed to help you build your team of youth leaders into a thriving and healthy team to impact students next week.
- Main sessions to encourage and feed your soul, plus smaller classroom environments to equip you and your team with very practical and tools oriented teaching.
Pre-Conference Intensive
Friday 9:00am-4:30pm- Designed to equip and empower you (the point youth worker) to lead your ministry in a greater way.
- A day of intense teaching from the front, with time to process around your tables. Bring your entire team to think together through the big picture issues in youth ministry.
Combo
Pre-Conference Intensive +Main Conference- THE BEST VALUE! The combo gets you into the entire event (Friday Pre-Conference Intensive and Main Conference)
You'll be able to dive into big picture issues on Friday during the day, refresh your soul on Friday evening in the Main Session, and equip yourself with super practical tools you can put into practice right away in Learning Labs on Saturday.
Main Conference
Saturday- Designed to help you build your team of youth leaders into a thriving and healthy team to impact students next week.
- Main sessions to encourage and feed your soul, plus smaller classroom environments to equip you and your team with very practical and tools oriented teaching.
Pre-Conference Intensive
We’re already designing something awesome for you…stay tuned!
Format + Purpose
In the morning, an expert in the field will help us better understand the issue. Then in the afternoon, together we’ll workshop ways we need to respond, specifically ways that will help us care for our students, equip our leaders, and inform our parents. This time will be lead by Sid Koop, Jason Ballard and others, with the purpose of walking away from the day with tools and a specific plan for engaging this issue in a Christ centred, redemptive way.
Facilitators
![]() | Iona Snair |
Sid Koop | |
Jason Ballard |
Schedule 2019-20
Pre-Conference Intensive
FRIDAY
9:00 am Part 1
10:15 am Break
10:30 am Part 2
12:00 pm Lunch
1:00 pm Part 3
2:15 pm Break
2:30pm Part 4
4:30 pm Dismissal
Main Conference
FRIDAY (except Montreal)
7:00 pm Main Session 1
9:00 pm Youth Workers Party
SATURDAY
9:00 am Main Session 2
10:45 am Break
11:00 am Learning Labs 1
12:00 pm Lunch
1:00 pm Learning Labs 2
1:45 pm Break
2:00 pm Learning Labs 3
3:00pm Break
3:15 pm Main Session 3
4:30 pm Dismissal
Partnering with CYWC
When you partner with CYWC, you become part of the CYWC family of organizations from across Canada who love youth workers and want to help make an eternal difference. This is your chance to meet and interact with youth workers, encourage and pray for them, talk with them, and to even take in a Learning Lab or Main Session with them.
If you have more questions or want to become a partner, email Rachel at partners@cywc.ca or call her at 905.869.0251.
**CYWC Regional Training is GST exempt.
FAQs
Is lunch provided?
Yes! We will be providing lunch for attendees on Friday AND Saturday! We want you to stay together as a team, visit our partners and exhibitors and get to know other people in youth ministry in your region. The cost for lunch is included in your registration. While we strive to have some vegetarian and gluten free options available, we are not able to accommodate all food restrictions.
Who is CYWC for?
CYWC is a conference for anyone who is involved in youth ministry. You may be a community youth worker, a youth pastor or director (paid staff), or a volunteer youth pastor/director or small group leader, program director, counsellor, or a senior pastor invested in your church’s youth ministry, or perhaps a parent of youth, or a teacher….it’s a big group! If you are passionate about awakening the lives of students through the Truth of Jesus Christ within youth ministry in your local context, then we want you to come to the nearest CYWC event.
Refunds/Weather cancellation policy
All payments made to Truth Matters Ministries (CYWC Regional Training events) are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend the CYWC event you registered for, you may transfer your registration to a different person. If you need to cancel the registration, all payments made are non-refundable. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Rachel at 905-869-0251 or info@truthmatters.ca.
If we are unable to host an event due to weather conditions, payments cannot be refunded. If an event is hosted as scheduled and your group cancels or reduces numbers due to weather conditions, all payments are non-refundable.
Still have a question? We’re happy to help!
Mailing Address: PO Box 89097 Westdale, Hamilton, ON L8S 4R5
Phone: 905.869.0251
Email: info@truthmatters.ca
CYWC is operated by Truth Matters Ministries