The 2025 1UP Toronto Conference, hosted by Urban Minds, is set to bring together secondary school students from across Ontario for a weekend dedicated to redefining urban development through youth-driven ideas. Scheduled to take place March 29 and 30 in Toronto, the conference will focus on the theme Building Belonging, exploring the intersection of innovation and social equity to create inclusive urban spaces.

Highlighting the event is the Design Jam, a four-hour student design competition where student teams will tackle real-world urban challenges. Organizations, including municipalities, architecture firms, and non-profits, are encouraged to submit eligible projects for consideration as the Design Jam case challenge. Eligible projects should address youth needs, align with the conference theme, and be at a visioning or public engagement stage by March 2025.

Selected organizations benefit by gaining fresh, actionable insights from over 150 participating youth, offering valuable perspectives on their projects. Urban Minds, meanwhile, will compile a post-event report summarizing ideas and solutions generated during the Design Jam.

Submissions are now open and must be completed by Friday, January 31 at 11:59 PM. For more information on the submissions process, click here.