These religious communities say more young people are getting involved

Abasi Ekpenyon grew up in Calgary amid what he called “ultra Nigerian, traditional Christianity.” Then, when he moved to Ontario, church wasn't a part of his life.

“I really found that there was something missing,” he said.

That’s what brought Ekpenyon to Trinity Anglican Church in Old Ottawa South, about a year ago.

“We sang songs and then we chatted and then we had discussions and I was able to connect with people and also find a way to connect with the community," he said.

Since then, Ekpenyon has attended the church regularly, getting more involved and helping to run its social media profile.

He's not alone. Religious organizations across Ottawa told CBC that in the last five years, they’ve seen more young people getting involved.

According to new data from the Angus Reid Institute, 24 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds in Canada are "religiously committed" — the highest percentage of any age group.

CBC spoke to members of the local religious communities to find out more. They said young people are largely attracted by a sense of community.

'A beacon of hope'

At Trinity Anglican Church, Reverend Mark Whittall said the need for people to gather became even more pressing after the isolation of the COVID-19 lockdowns.

When he joined the church during the pandemic, only two young people regularly attended. Now the number is closer to 70, he said.

"Out of that, I think there was just a heightened awareness that … we need connection to our communities and the church is a place that provides that,” Whittall said.

Imam Fatir Ahmad, previously of Bai'tul Kareem Mosque in Cambridge, Ont., remembers the isolation of the pandemic well.

He became that mosque's first full-time imam at age 26 during the lockdowns, when he couldn’t physically meet the 500 members. Still, he said general attendance increased at the time.

"They found religion to support their isolation, to give them basically a beacon of hope," Ahmad explained.

Ahmad is now the imam for Baitul Khaliq Mosque in south Ottawa and a leader with the local chapter of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association.

He and other religious communities told CBC they have done a lot of outreach to connect with young people.

Impact a 2-way street

Imam Shaykh Ismail Albatnuni at ar-Rahmah Mosque said it’s important for many families who come from other countries to get help navigating Canadian culture.

“We really have a problem amongst our youth because of the different culture,” he said. “They don’t know … their identity [in Canada].”

Getting young people and their families involved in the mosque can help them navigate those challenges better, he said. The mosque can support them, help improve their mental health, and ensure they don’t resort to harmful coping mechanisms like drugs.

“It’s a huge impact [on young people],” he said.

Generational tensions

At Or Haneshamah, a reconstructionist synagogue, Deborah Zuker said the reverse is also true: the community feels the impact of young people’s involvement.

In her community's case, it's because there are generational tensions over the war in Palestine.

“The question around Zionism is an issue [with] … where young people are going to fit into the Jewish community,” said Zuker, who is a trained rabbi and a member of Or Haneshamah.

Young members who equate Zionism with colonialism struggle to reconcile their views with those of "mainstream" Jewish organizations, she added.

"The system is successfully ejecting those whose thinking is too far outside what they're used to," Zuker said, but she's always tried to help folks who were on the margins or who don't feel like they fit into "traditional religious frames," she said.

"It's hard to walk into a room all by yourself, without a wing person with you."