Hyundai Canada is proud to mark five years of partnership with BGC Canada—the country’s largest charity dedicated to children and youth—as the title sponsor of the Youth of the Year Awards, a national program celebrating exceptional young leaders across Canada.
This announcement comes on the heels of the 2025 Youth of the Year Awards, BGC Canada’s national initiative celebrating exceptional youth who demonstrate leadership, service, and achievement in their communities. The program aims to foster strong ambassadors for BGC Clubs and empower youth to become role models and advocates across the country.
As the title sponsor since 2020, Hyundai Canada has been keen to uplift youth through BGC scholarships, leadership training, and advocacy opportunities for youth aged 16–21 who are active members of BGC Clubs. This partnership reflects Hyundai’s commitment to its core vision of Progress for Humanity, by opening doors for youth and helping build inclusive, empowered communities.
“BGC Clubs’ vision of ‘opportunity changes everything’ aligns with our mission to uplift youth through supports that nurture them to reach their full potential,” says Steve Flamand, President and CEO of Hyundai Canada. “We’re proud to have this partnership with BGC Clubs and to continue to see young people strive to realize their dreams through the Youth of the Year program.”
Each year, a group of Youth of the Year recipients are selected through a competitive application process that includes essays and video submissions. These youth receive a personal laptop, scholarships and participate in leadership development opportunities focused on public speaking, media engagement, and networking. One finalist is named National Youth of the Year and serves as a national ambassador for BGC Canada.
Five years of opportunities
For the past five years, Hyundai Canada has remained committed to showcasing the diversity and passion within the automotive industry by engaging directly with youth at the grassroots level. As part of this ongoing support, Hyundai hosts an annual fireside chat with its leadership team as well as hosting a unique opportunity for Youth of the Year finalists to engage in open dialogue with CEO Steve Flamand on leadership, life skills, and careers in automotive.
Hyundai also provides insight into the automotive world through demonstrations of new Sub: and upcoming products, helping youth explore the future of mobility and innovation.
Beyond the awards
Since the beginning of the partnership, Hyundai Canada has supported BGC Clubs across multiple provinces by loaning four Hyundai Santa Fe SUVs to those in need. These vehicles help facilitate essential services, including transportation for youth and staff, as well as community outreach programs. Hyundai also covers fuel, insurance, and maintenance costs through its dealership network, ensuring the BGC Clubs can focus on delivering impactful programming without added operational burden.
“Young people are actively building our collective future. Across the world, we have seen young community leaders raise their voices about issues that impact all of us,” says Owen Charters, President & CEO, BGC Canada. “We are grateful to Hyundai Canada for helping us create a platform that gives young leaders at BGC Clubs an opportunity to represent young Canadians, to advocate for issues that matter to kids and teens, and to give back to their communities.”
This partnership is rooted in Hyundai Canada’s commitment to driving positive change in communities their team members, and customers live and work in nationwide.
