A champion of the most vulnerable members of our communities is being recognized by Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) for providing help, encouragement and hope to individuals and families in need.
David Young, recently retired CEO of Sources Community Resources Society (SOURCES), will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws during convocation ceremonies at KPU Surrey on Feb. 28.
"It is with gratitude that I look back on a career which provided me with personal growth, purpose and the opportunity to contribute in an impactful way to our society,” says Young. “Therefore, to be recognized for my life’s work, especially by KPU, an institution so deeply rooted in community, has a deep and profound meaning for me.”
Young first became engaged in human services while still at university, working as a residential care worker for people with developmental disabilities. Child and youth work with Toronto Catholic Children’s Aid Society followed.
In 1982, Young arrived in Golden, B.C., where he was hired as a social worker with the Ministry of Human Resources. This began a long career with the B.C. government, culminating with an executive role as an Assistant Deputy Minister with the Ministry of Children and Family Development.
Following his career with government, Young assumed a national leadership role by serving as the executive director of the Canadian Association of Family Resource Programs in Ottawa. His extensive career also includes working in the areas of income assistance, mental health, child welfare, and family and adoption services.
“David’s commitment to social justice and community wellness, and his unyielding determination to ensure that no one is left behind shows why he is deserving of this honorary degree,” says Dr. Alan Davis, President and Vice-Chancellor at KPU. "Initiatives such as a community law clinic, family law advocacy, substance use services, overdose prevention and a youth justice program have become important supports for people in the communities SOURCES serves.”
Under Young’s leadership, SOURCES became a strong, community-based not-for-profit multiservice agency that delivers services for the most vulnerable. From trauma counselling, food security, homelessness prevention and youth mental wellness, to life skills training, community living and infant development programs, Young ensured services continually innovated and expanded to meet evolving community needs.
Young has also served on several national, provincial and community boards and task forces throughout Canada. In B.C., this includes serving as president of the Federation of Community Social Services and the Community Social Services Employers Association, and as a board member of Kiwassa Neighbourhood House (Vancouver) and United Way BC Lower Mainland.
In 2016, Young received a BC Achievement Foundation Community Award for his dedication and service to others, and in 2022 he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal for his community work.
Young and his wife Judy have six adult children and two grandchildren. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Trent University, majoring in English and politics and a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of B.C. with a focus on community development. A lifelong learner, David has pursued additional education in executive development at Royal Roads University and in social innovation at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.