CityHive

What CityHive does

CityHive is a Vancouver-based nonprofit organization (registered charity/non-profit society in British Columbia) founded in 2015 that engages youth aged 13-30 in civic decision-making, urban planning, and climate action across Metro Vancouver. The organization operates three core program lines: classroom-based CityShapers in Schools (grades 5-12), community-based CityShapers in Communities (delivered through youth-serving community organizations in Vancouver and Surrey), and cohort programs including Urban ReVision: BIPOC Mentorship Studio (launched 2024, partnered with Hogan's Alley Society for a dedicated Black youth cohort in 2026) and Policy Under Pressure (a 12-session climate policy sprint running March-May 2026). Programmatic content covers climate action, housing and affordability, public space design, and civic governance, with curriculum aligned to BC Social Studies, Social Justice, Urban Studies, and Science standards.

CityHive monetizes through two streams: donations and grants from foundations, governments, and individual supporters, and paid consulting services sold directly to municipalities, government agencies, and community organizations. Consulting offerings include Public and Stakeholder Youth Engagement (engagements of 1 to 18+ months), Engagement Strategy and Toolkit Development, Engagement Practitioner Training (1.5 to 8 hours), and Education Consulting (6-18 months). All youth-facing programs are delivered free of charge, with honoraria available to participants. Client logos include TransLink, Metro Vancouver, BC Hydro, City of Vancouver, City of Surrey, City of North Vancouver, City of Richmond, Natural Resources Canada, Vancouver Coastal Health, and Hogan's Alley Society, among others.

The organization does not operate a software platform, API, or AI-enabled product; its offerings are entirely in-person, facilitated services. Operations are led by Executive Director Rowan Gentleman-Sylvester with a small team of program coordinators and a board of directors. CityHive has been a certified Living Wage Employer in Metro Vancouver since 2020.

Name

CityHive

Legal name

CityHive

Website

https://cityhive.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CityHive is a Vancouver-based nonprofit delivering youth civic engagement programs and consulting services. It serves Metro Vancouver youth aged 13-30, municipalities, and community organizations through cohort programs, classroom workshops, and government engagement consulting focused on urban planning and climate action.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civic engagement and youth consulting services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (624110), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community & Adult Education (Municipal/Community Schools) (EDAAAEAB), Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD)

Keywords

• Youth civic engagement
• Stakeholder consultation services
• Community engagement programs
• Urban planning workshops
• Public participation consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: CityHive operates as a registered non-profit organization that relies on donations and grants from foundations, governments, and individual supporters to fund its programs and operations.
2. Consulting Services: CityHive provides paid consulting services to government agencies, municipalities, and organizations for youth engagement strategy, facilitation, and training.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CityHive is a Vancouver-based non-profit organization that delivers youth civic engagement programs and consulting services. Its core offerings include classroom and community-based workshops (CityShapers in Schools for grades 5-12 and CityShapers in Communities), cohort programs for youth aged 18-30 (Urban ReVision: BIPOC Mentorship Studio and Policy Under Pressure), and paid consulting services to municipalities and government agencies covering youth engagement strategy, toolkit development, practitioner training, and education program design. All youth programs are offered free of charge while consulting services are sold on contract to public sector clients.

Product overview

CityHive is a Vancouver-based nonprofit organization operating a portfolio of youth civic engagement programs and consulting services. The organization offers classroom workshops (CityShapers in Schools for grades 5-12), community-based workshops (CityShapers in Communities), and cohort programs (Urban ReVision: BIPOC Mentorship Studio for Black youth, Policy Under Pressure for climate policy). Consulting services include youth engagement strategy, toolkit development, practitioner training, and education program design. Past programs include Envirolab, Youth Climate Innovation Lab, Surrey Shapers, ClimateWorks Lab, CityShapers Cohort, 30Network, and the North Shore Young Civic Forum. The organization connects youth (ages 13-30) with municipalities, civic institutions, and community organizations to advance youth voice in urban planning, climate action, and civic governance. CityHive does not operate a software platform, API, or AI-powered product—their offerings are entirely in-person/programmatic services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CityShapers in Schools: A classroom-based workshop series focusing on governance, civic engagement, and city planning for grades 5-12 across Metro Vancouver.
• CityShapers in Communities
• Urban ReVision: BIPOC Mentorship Studio
• Policy Under Pressure

Products and services

• CityShapers in Schools Classroom-based workshop series for grades 5-12 focusing on governance, civic engagement, and city planning through the lenses of climate action, housing and affordability, and public space. Aligned with Social Studies, Social Justice, Urban Studies, and Science curricula and offered free to participating schools.
• CityShapers in Communities Community-based workshop series exploring governance, civic engagement, and city planning through the lenses of climate action and public space design. Delivered in partnership with youth-serving community organizations, neighbourhood houses, settlement programs, and employment agencies in Vancouver and Surrey, and offered free for youth participants ages 13-30.
• Urban ReVision: BIPOC Mentorship Studio Cohort program for BIPOC youth aged 18-30 passionate about urban planning and civic governance. Features mentorship from professionals with shared backgrounds, project-based learning, and hands-on workshops. Cohort 5 partnered with Hogan's Alley Society for the first dedicated Black youth cohort; program offered free with honoraria available.
• Policy Under Pressure Hands-on learning program for youth ages 18-30 to develop understanding of the climate policy landscape at the local level. Offered free to youth participants with a 12-session sprint format involving industry and community partners.
• Public & Stakeholder Youth Engagement Consulting Comprehensive paid youth engagement services for municipal and government clients, including strategy development, workshops, youth ambassador programs, and youth advisory programs. Engagement lengths typically range from 1 month to 18+ months depending on project scope.
• Engagement Strategy and Toolkit Development Paid consulting service involving collaborative development of customized engagement strategies tailored to youth needs, including environmental scans, community partner outreach, targeted interviews, youth focus groups, and comprehensive engagement guides and toolkits. Sold to municipalities, government agencies, and organizations.
• Engagement Practitioner Training Paid workshops and training retreats for engagement practitioners to learn best practices for engaging youth and young adults. Customizable training sessions ranging from 1.5 to 8 hours, sold to municipal, government, and organizational teams.
• Education Consulting Paid consulting service for development and implementation of educational programs teaching youth about municipal operations and civic involvement. Targeting youth-focused civic education program operators with engagement lengths of 6-18 months.

Quantifiable outcome

• Metro Vancouver Climate Literacy Workshops reached 178 participants
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• TransLinkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partner for Transport2050 Youth Advisory Council and ongoing youth engagement initiatives. CityHive designed and ran regional youth engagement process for Metro Vancouver's 30-year transportation strategy (2019-2023).
• Metro VancouvercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for climate literacy workshops delivering a series of in-person and virtual sessions introducing residents to Metro Vancouver's Climate Literacy Program.
• VancitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partner for youth engagement initiatives including Global Alliance for Banking on Values Summit youth delegation support.
• Natural Resources CanadamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-led Generation Energy national youth engagement process for NRCan consultation, engaging over 7,000 Canadians.
• Simon Fraser University (SFU) Faculty of EnvironmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple partnerships including Women & Climate Roundtable collaboration, City Shapers program delivery with Morris J Wosk Centre for Dialogue, and venue hosting for Urban ReVision sessions.
• Student EnergymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-collaborator on Generation Energy youth engagement process. Ongoing partner in climate and energy programming.
• City of VancouvercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding and delivery partner for CityShapers in Schools, CityShapers in Communities, and Sea2City Design Challenge youth engagement.
• City of SurreycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding partner and delivery partner for Surrey Shapers program and Surrey Youth Engagement Strategy development.
• City of North VancouvercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for North Vancouver Urban Forest Plan youth engagement and Sutherland Secondary active transportation student showcase.
• Hogan's Alley SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUrban ReVision Cohort 5 program partner for dedicated Black youth cohort in urban planning and civic governance mentorship program.
• David Suzuki FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as consulting services partner for collaboration on environmental and climate initiatives.
• Global Alliance for Banking on ValuesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for youth delegation to GABV Summit with Vancity.
• Youthful CitiesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosted 30Network program cohorts bringing together 30 young people under 30 to address pressing urban issues (2017-2018).
• Women Transforming CitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosted Women & Climate Roundtable bringing together researchers, civic leaders, and students for intersectional climate action dialogue.
• Downtown Vancouver BIAminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerClient for Millennial Engagement Strategy consultation and Are Scooters the Future youth workshop.
• BC HydromajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerClient for Clean Power 2040 Youth Engagement facilitating province-wide workshop for youth on BC's clean energy future.
• Vancouver Coastal HealthminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerClient for youth input workshop on website and translation services accessibility.
• Vancouver City Planning CommissionminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSupported logistics and program design for City for All Summit on belonging, equity, reconciliation, and resiliency.
• Ecocity BuildersminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConvened three youth Idea Jams during 2019 Ecocity Summit to discuss and critique Ecocity Standards.
• HCMA Architecture + DesignmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSubcontracted to lead youth component development for Surrey's Public Engagement Strategy and Toolkit.
• Public Health Association of BC (PHABC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRise Up! project partnership supporting youth leadership and food systems connections (2023-ongoing).
• Take a Hike FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported launch of Youth Advisory Circle by designing goals, structure, engagement process, and facilitating youth sessions.
• North Shore Community ResourcesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative delivery partner for North Shore Young Civic Forum (2019-2022).
• SUCCESS Youth Leadership MillenniumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Surrey Shapers: Public Space program delivery.
• Umoja Operation SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Surrey Shapers: Public Space program delivery.
• Squamish NationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-delivery partner for CityShapers in Schools programming.
• BC Climate Action SecretariatmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerClient for Youth & CleanBC engagement events across B.C. reaching over 200 youth (2023, 2025).
• Kirk & Co.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator on Transport2050 Youth Advisory Council project.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• IAP2 Canada: Canadian affiliate of the leading public participation body. CityHive's ED co-chairs its Young Professionals' Community of Practice. IAP2 sets the engagement methodology that CityHive's consulting services execute against.
• Tamarack Institute: Canadian civic engagement and community change consulting nonprofit. Comparable in providing learning, advisory, and convening services for place-based civic initiatives, though at a broader scale and older cohort.
• HCMA Architecture + Design: Municipal consulting firm that subcontracted CityHive to lead youth components of Surrey's Public Engagement Strategy. Directly comparable as a competing supplier on the same municipal engagement procurement pipeline.

Direct peers

• Youthful Cities: Toronto-based nonprofit whose 30Network program CityHive directly co-hosted cohorts with (Housing Affordability 2017; Civic Engagement 2018). Operates a near-identical youth urban engagement model, making it the closest direct peer.
• Apathy is Boring: Canadian national nonprofit equipping young people to vote and engage civically. Highly comparable in mission (youth democratic engagement) and consulting/programmatic model, with broader national reach than CityHive's Metro Vancouver base.
• Student Energy: International youth-led organization co-collaborated with CityHive on the Generation Energy national engagement process for NRCan (engaging 7,000+ Canadians). Comparable in combining youth cohorts, climate/civic programming, and government consulting.
• Ecocity Builders: CityHive convened three youth Idea Jams during Ecocity's 2019 Ecocity Summit. Comparable as a peer organization convening youth around urban sustainability standards and city-shaping engagement.
• Generation Citizen: US nonprofit bringing civics education and action-based learning into schools and communities. Closest US operational analog to CityShapers in Schools and CityShapers in Communities.

Regional players

• North Shore Community Resources: Co-delivery partner for CityHive's North Shore Young Civic Forum (2019-2022). Comparable in operating regional civic engagement/youth programs with North Shore municipalities alongside broader social services.
• Women Transforming Cities: BC-based civic engagement nonprofit that co-hosted the Women & Climate Roundtable with CityHive. Comparable in driving equity-centered urban civic dialogue through events and advocacy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/cityhivevan
• Xx.com/cityhivevan
• Facebookfacebook.com/cityhivevan
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cityhive-vancouver

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CityHive