On January 21, the Young Communist League club in Ottawa, the Donalda Charron club, hosted four comrades from the Central Executive Committee of the YCL, Rebel Youth editor Igor Sadikov, General Secretary Ivan Byard, and Central Executive Committee member Kayla Weiler. These comrades held a YCL school bringing much needed experience to the quickly growing club in Ottawa.
Throughout the day we went over the various ongoing capitalist crises and their causes, as well as our view on socialism, our press, Rebel Youth, and its purpose, and the student movement in Canada. The first section consisted of a brief introduction from Ivan on the nature of the YCL and its beliefs, and our understanding of the nature of the system of monopoly capitalism that rules over so-called Canada, as well as our socialist vision for the future. This was followed by a presentation from Igor, who set forth the goal and purpose of the central press, which is to connect struggles across the country to those in our local community, and to create a common outlook for young workers across Canada. To conclude the YCL school we heard from Kayla regarding work specifically within the sphere of student struggle and work around the continuing fight for free education. Methods of agitation, education, and organization on campus were discussed, and the power of broad, mass mobilization of youth and students was reinforced.
The school was well attended by the local club and was successful in bringing experience and guidance from comrades from around the country. The lessons and effects of this education will be felt through the club as a whole, and into the wider community as we continue to fight and organize for a socialist future in Canada.