[5] Like its international counterpart, SCM Canada has been part of the ecumenical movement, the turbulence of the 1960s student movements, the mid-20th century shift in balance of power from liberal to evangelical Christian conservatism, the pressures of maintaining unity across the spectrum of Christianity, and the tension between a theological study focus and a social activism focus.

[6] Since its founding, SCM Canada has taken stands on social issues including support for the ordination of women, opposing internment of Japanese-Canadians during World War II; anti-war activities since the 1960s; and facing controversy for its solidarity with LGBTQ Christians.

The SCM also runs international solidarity exchanges with more militant SCMs in the Philippines and Nicaragua and annual student educational trips they call pilgrimages.

Today, SCM Canada travels every November to the gates of the US army base at Fort Benning, Georgia, to protest the human rights abuses of the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC, formerly the School of the Americas).

[7] SCM Canada was investigated by Canadian security services during the Cold War for alleged Communist infiltration because of its positions on economic justice and opposition to nuclear weapons.

[9] Since the 1990s, SCM Canada has attracted a variety of students, but the network is considerably smaller than in previous decades when mainline Protestant churches were more prominent in Canadian life.

[7] Politically, SCM tends to hold a number of converging political ideologies and outlooks in its ranks, including anarchist and feminist principles of decentralized organizing, liberal concerns with human rights and equality, and emphasis on praxis in integrating theories of social change, theologies, and leftist social activism.

The activities of local SCM movements may be political in nature, such as attending protests or running workshops relating to a variety of social justice issues.

Units base their social justice activities within the Christian faith through liberation theology, Bible studies, student-led worship services, and meditation.

The national office of the Student Christian Movement offers a variety of social justice themed devotionals and Bible studies available for download.

SCM Canada used to organize an annual pilgrimage to the gates of the US army base at Fort Benning, Georgia to protest human rights abuses of the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC, formerly School of the Americas).

[7] The movement also advocates for LGBTQ people's rights, which began in the mid-1990s with a popular pamphlet, Stop Homophobia in the Churches, which was updated and republished in 2007.

As a multi-generational festival, Cahoots remains the only initiative run by SCM Canada with activities specifically oriented towards children.