Grade 7 · Bayview Middle School · Willowdale, Toronto

Henry Nguyen

Youth civic advocate. I learn how government works by taking part in it.

Youth Council · Office of MP Maggie Chi Bayview Ambassador

Read about my proposal Contact me

Henry in a light blue suit at Queen's Park, between the flags of Canada and Ontario — Queen's Park, Toronto

About me

Every big movement starts with a small idea that someone shares.

Henry as a younger boy in a navy suit, sitting in an armchair

I'm a Vietnamese-Canadian student who loves social studies, politics, science, engineering and art.

Since I was little, I have wanted to become a politician and an engineer so I can help people and help my community grow in a sustainable way. To get there, I read every day to understand how decisions are made, and I take every chance I get to talk with the people who make them.

I'm also interested in digital creativity and technology, and I hope to study them alongside my main degree one day.

Civic record

Where I've taken part

Canada has three levels of government. I have reached out at each one. I also volunteer in my community and have met diplomats.

FederalParliament of Canada

2025–nowYouth Council member, Office of Maggie Chi, MP for Don Valley North
Jul 2026Sent my Vietnamese Heritage Day proposal to the MP's office
2023Received a letter from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after I emailed him about my dream of becoming a politician and my food waste project (see the letter)
In personMet MPs Maggie Chi, Tim Hodgson, Robert Oliphant and Julie Dzerowicz, and the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor

ProvincialLegislative Assembly of Ontario

SummerTook part in the Explore LAO summer program at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, including a session in the Legislative Chamber
VisitToured the Ontario Legislative Building and tried on the Speaker's robes

MunicipalCity, town and regional bodies

Aug 2026Sent my proposal to Councillor Lily Cheng, Ward 18 Willowdale, who offered to help
2026Signed up as a volunteer in the Ward 18 municipal campaign
InvitedPresented my Food Waste Project to the Board of Directors of Eco360, New Brunswick
Jan 2023Received an official city pin from Mayor Andrew LeBlanc of Riverview, New Brunswick

CommunitySchool and youth groups

2026Joined The Governor General's Horse Guards 2402 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps
2025–2026Bayview Ambassadors, Bayview Middle School
NowYouth leader, Viet Youth Readiness Hub (Canada Vietnam Cultural & Educational Council)

InternationalDiplomacy and global projects

VisitMet the team at the Consulate General of Cuba
2020Youngest Student Ambassador, climate and biodiversity project by ACCB, funded by the U.S. Embassy

At Queen's Park

Legislative Assembly of Ontario

Henry standing at a member's desk and speaking into a microphone in the Ontario Legislative Chamber — Explore LAO summer program: speaking in the Chamber

Henry in a grey suit standing on the floor of the Ontario Legislative Chamber — On the floor of the Chamber

Henry in the Speaker's black robe and tricorne hat, seated in a carved wooden chair — Trying on the Speaker's robes

Henry standing beside the flags of Canada and Ontario inside Queen's Park — Inside Queen's Park

Henry walking in front of the Ontario Legislative Building in winter — Arriving in winter

With the Cadets

GGHG 2402 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps

Large group photo of army cadets and new members, wearing poppies, in a gym under the provincial flags — Joining the cadet corps

Cadets and new members sitting on a gym floor, listening to two instructors in uniform — Briefing from the instructors

Featured initiative

Vietnamese Heritage Day in Toronto

My first policy proposal. I researched and wrote it from May to July 2026 with guidance from my mentor, then took it to two levels of government.

In progress

May 2026
Research
Started researching and writing the proposal with my mentor.
31 Jul 2026
Federal
Sent the proposal to the office of Maggie Chi, MP for Don Valley North.
4 Aug 2026
Reply
"I was impressed by the amount of research and care you've put into it."Executive Assistant, Office of Maggie Chi, MP

The office shared it with the MP and advised me to ask my City Councillor about a City of Toronto proclamation. I wrote back the same day and followed that advice.
11 Aug 2026
Municipal
Met Councillor Lily Cheng in person. The next day I sent her office the proposal.
13 Aug 2026
Reply
"Thank you for your initiative! We can certainly help take action on this."Councillor Lily Cheng, Ward 18 Willowdale

Because council does not meet during an election, the next step comes after it. The Councillor asked me to list Vietnamese organizations to contact. I replied within the hour to say I would start right away.
Now
Next step
Building the outreach list of Vietnamese community organizations so the proclamation request can move forward in the new council term.

Letters and recognition

What others have said

2023 · Office of the Prime Minister

A letter from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

I emailed the Prime Minister about my dream of becoming a politician and about my food waste project, which I had presented to the Mayor of Riverview and to Eco360. He wrote back and commended my commitment to sustainable development and my passion for politics.

"Your passion reminds me of just why I decided to do what I do in the first place."Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Debate Camp · Program staff report

Debating and public speaking

"Henry is a strong critical thinker and a great presence in the classroom."Debate Camp program staff

Playing the Prime Minister in a debate on giving parents access to their children's social media, I argued it would help keep kids away from inappropriate content.

Persuasion and expressionConsistently
Teamwork and collaborationConsistently
Interest and engagementConsistently
Confidence and clarityOften

Conversations

Meeting the people who serve

I take every opportunity to connect with people who work in government. These are some of the public leaders I have met.

MP Maggie Chi shaking Henry's hand at a community event — **Maggie Chi, MP**Don Valley North. I serve on her Youth Council.

Henry smiling as he talks with MP Julie Dzerowicz — **Julie Dzerowicz, MP**Davenport

Henry standing in a group with MP Maggie Chi and MP Tim Hodgson — **Tim Hodgson, MP, and Maggie Chi, MP**Community event

Henry in a light blue suit standing with MP Robert Oliphant in a large hall — **Robert Oliphant, MP**Met in person

Selfie of Henry with the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor — **The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor**Lunar New Year Festival, January 2023

Mayor Andrew LeBlanc leaning down to shake Henry's hand at a Lunar New Year festival — **Mayor Andrew LeBlanc**Riverview, N.B. He gave me an official city pin, January 2023.

Selfie of Henry with retired Lieutenant-General Mike Rouleau — **Lieutenant-General (Ret.) Mike Rouleau**Met in person

Henry standing with a consular official beside the flag of Cuba — **Consulate General of Cuba**Visit with the consular team

Henry and his family in a group photo with MP Julie Dzerowicz — **Julie Dzerowicz, MP**Community event, with my family

Henry at a meeting table with his laptop open, talking with two adults — **Board of Directors, Eco360**They invited me to present my Food Waste Project, New Brunswick

Henry seated at a dinner table with a small Canadian flag — **Community dinner**Don Valley North

How I think

My strongest thinking skills

A cognitive assessment I took in April 2026 showed four strong areas. Here is how each one shows up in my work.

Pattern recognition

Very superior

I connect what I read with policy ideas and real events. My teachers notice this in class discussions.

Attention to detail

Very superior

I write formal letters to elected offices with care, and I follow up on every reply the same day.

Logical reasoning

Superior

When the MP's office suggested a City proclamation, I adjusted my plan and took the proposal to my Councillor.

Spatial reasoning

Superior

I designed an interactive game that models Riverview landmarks, and I reached the A range in Design & Technology.

Domain scores as reported by an online assessment from IQ Academy, April 2026. An online test gives an indication of strengths. It is not a clinical evaluation.

Reading life

I read everywhere, even up a tree

I really love reading and writing, and I see them as learning opportunities. I read every day to understand politics better: on the subway, at the library, at home and outside my school.

Reading nowCanadian Politics, Concise Second Edition, borrowed from Toronto Public Library

My notesChapter on The Executive, written by hand on my e-reader

Online courseUnderstanding Open Educational Resources, Commonwealth of Learning

Henry writing notes in a study room at Toronto Public Library — Study room at Toronto Public Library

Henry writing notes about the executive branch on an e-reader, with a politics textbook on his lap — Notes on "The Executive"

Henry reading a book while sitting in a tree, his younger brother climbing below — Up a tree, with my little brother on the way up

Library copy of Canadian Politics, Concise Second Edition, on top of an e-reader — Borrowed from Toronto Public Library

Henry reading a thick book on the subway — On the subway

Henry taking notes while watching an online course video — Taking notes in an online course

Henry lying on a stone ledge, holding a book up to read — After school, on a stone ledge

Henry resting his chin on his hand while reading a book on the sofa — Thinking it through

Henry reading with headphones on at home — At home, headphones on

Henry writing with a pencil at his desk — Writing at my desk

Henry lying on his bed, reading a paperback standing open in front of him — One more chapter before bed

Earlier projects

I started young

2020 · Climate

Youngest Student Ambassador

"Learn – Think – Act for Climate Change and Biodiversity" was an ACCB project funded by the U.S. Embassy. I made awareness videos, reviewed two books about animals for ACCB's youth Knowledge Hub, and was recognized at the closing ceremony.

2020 · Ecology

Forest Ecology Festival

I completed the Forest Ecology Festival 2020, run by the British Ecological Society and ACCB, and received a certificate of completion.

2023 · Environment

My Food Waste Project

After meeting Mayor LeBlanc, I built an interactive game that models Riverview landmarks to teach young people about food waste, composting and caring for the climate. The Board of Directors of Eco360 invited me to present it, and Macmillan Education named me a "Change Maker".

Off the page

Music

Outside of politics and books, I play piano and trombone.

Piano, December 2025

Henry playing trombone in front of a piano — Trombone practice

Contact

Thank you for visiting. I'd love to hear from you.

I'm based in Willowdale, Toronto. Messages to this address are read together with a parent.

henry.baonguyen2804@gmail.com