Young Canadians (originally The K-Tels) were a Vancouver punk rock band active for just under two years. The YC's were influenced not only by the other punk bands in town at that time such as D.O.A. and the Pointed Sticks, but also by the Dolls, Stooges, and 60s garage rock. Although the band only recorded two EPs and a 7" single before breaking up, their single "Hawaii" is one of the classic Canadian punk anthems.
Historically significant (at least to the Vancouver scene) The K-Tels were the first punk band to play the Smilin' Buddha. They also supported the Boomtown Rats on a tour across Canada.
Just before the release of Hawaii, they were forced to changed their name when threatened with legal action by the K-Tel corporation.
The band's leader and songwriter was Art Bergmann, who went on to become one of the key figures in Canadian alternative rock in the 1980s and 1990s.
Founding member and bassist, Jim Bescott, died in an accident in Vancouver on August 31, 2005 at the age of 52.
Their two EPs and single, plus unreleased live tracks, were re-released in 1995 on the album No Escape (with liner notes written by Buck Cherry). A live 1980 concert at Mabuhay Gardens was released in 2001.