259 Jarvis St. Toronto,
ON M5B 2C2
News
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October 8, 2025
MLSE LaunchPad is proud to announce Uber as the new presenting sponsor for the Youth Advisory Council (YAC), a group of passionate young individuals ages 15-24 who are motivated to help youth reach their full potential through sport, physical activity and community engagement.
Being part of the YAC means actively contributing to the MLSE LaunchPad community by championing the youth voice. Members of the council lead with and advise on a youth-first approach to help shape programs and policies, bring events to life for youth and families, and play a key role in creating a positive space that reflects the needs and interests of the community.
"At Uber, we believe access to movement unlocks opportunity, and we saw a natural alignment with YAC’s mission of empowering youth voices,” said Laura Miller, Head of Public Policy and Communications at Uber Canada.
“By providing rideshare and delivery support, we’re helping remove barriers so young leaders can fully participate, shape their communities, and share their stories. Our commitment to social impact is rooted in our core values - working as one team, embracing diversity, and doing the right thing, period. Through our partnership with the YAC and MLSE Foundation, those values come to life as we stand alongside young people who are building confidence, inspiring others, and driving lasting change."
Over the last decade, the YAC has advanced its mission to empower and amplify youth voices. Each year, a council chair and two executive members are appointed to lead this effort. The new YAC chair, Patricia Aneziris, is a four-year team veteran and holds a seat on the MLSE LaunchPad Board of Directors, ensuring that, in her words, "the decisions being made are grounded in what will have the best impact on the youth."
“It’s important for youth voices to be at the table during important conversations surrounding youth programming and community because they are the ones experiencing, and ultimately benefiting from it,” said Patricia. “The YAC is significant in this sense because it allows for youth voices to be at the forefront of the conversations, having real youth representing the thoughts and desires of them and their peers.”
One thing that makes MLSE LaunchPad such a special place is its deep-rooted connection to the surrounding community. For many, like YAC member Lyla, who grew up in the neighbourhood, being part of MLSE LaunchPad is much more than participation—it's a meaningful way to give back to the place they call home.
“Overall, as a lead coach and YAC member, becoming a leader at MLSE Launchpad gives me the opportunity to pour the same energy back into the community that built me,” said Lyla.
“From supporting with our winter clothing drive that served hundreds in our community, to creating my ‘All Around Asia’ event for Asian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, I've realized that no voice or effort is wasted or unseen. The YAC gives me the opportunity to share my passions, hold space for meaningful moments, and understand that my voice has volume, maybe not always in sound, but definitely in impact.”
Opened in 2017 and located in Toronto’s urban centre of Moss Park, MLSE LaunchPad is a 42,000sq ft space that serves as an ambitious ‘living lab’ to explore and measure how sport can help improve the lives of youth. Sport For Development is a specific methodology supported by extensive research that suggests the intentional use of sport and physical activity can build healthy communities and help young people reach their full potential.
“It’s important for youth voices to be at the table during important conversations surrounding youth programming and community because they are the ones experiencing, and ultimately benefiting from it,”