The Interchange on Canadian Studies/Échange sur les études canadiennes (ICS/ÉÉC) offers 260 young Canadians a weeklong opportunity to engage in a bilingual forum each Spring. The host jurisdiction shifts between provinces and territories annually. Hosting students welcome fellow student delegates from across Canada into their communities and homes during the week of the Conference. They then have the opportunity to travel to the home of their billet in the summer for a one week period - completing the interchange.

The objectives and goals of the program are based on 5 key elements of citizenship:
• To facilitate and further enrich our knowledge of Canada.
• To promote understanding on the part of young Canadians toward others.
• To promote understanding and appreciation for Canada's diverse heritage.
• To develop an understanding of, and an appreciation for, the regional aspect of Canada.
• To foster, in young Canadians, a greater commitment to participate in the political, economic, social, and cultural life of Canada.

Host students are selected by the local conference hosting committee. Students from the remaining 12 provinces and territories are selected within their own jurisdictions and comprise their province or territory’s delegation of 10 students each. In addition, every province or territory’s delegation consists of at least two adult chaperones.

The Conference is funded through grants from the federal and provincial/territorial governments, and some corporate and private donations. Student and adult registration fees, currently set at $750, cover all transportation as well as program costs including meals, tours, guest speakers and entertainment. To help offset the registration fees, jurisdictions provide varying levels of funding through provincial/ territorial departments of education and local school boards, Contact your provincial/territorial ICS/ÉÉC Director to learn more.