The City of Humboldt is calling youth to action with their first Youth Council, and possibly the second of its kind in the province.
Community Development Coordinator, Colby McClelland, says the idea came from the Town of Kindersley, which started their council in 2009 and was initiated by former Community Development and Communications Director Jennifer Brooks.
The Youth Council will act to bridge council and the youth of the city with five to seven students from grades 8 to 10 meeting on a monthly basis to discuss municipal politics youth initiatives and youth based projects, says McClelland.
The Humboldt Skate Park was an initiative that had youth input, and McClelland says the City wants to see more youth contribute and learn about council decisions and governing.
“We want to teach and connect with our youth in terms of teaching them the services we provide as the City and teach them more about how we govern.”
While they are still trying to work out how that bridge will operate, McClelland says that motions and discussion can come from Youth Council to council and vise versa.
“City council will look to forward things to the Youth Council so if there is something and they want to consult our youth...they’ll definitely play an important role.”
McClelland knows the benefits of understanding and discussing the roles of municipal government at a young age since even with a university degree, coming into work with the City made him realize how much he did not know himself.
McClelland sees the council benefitting the participates both at the high school and post secondary levels.
However, it is going to be very much a get back what the participants put into it scenario with its success dependant on the ideas and hardwork of the students.
Michelle McMillan Manager of Community, Culture, and Relations for the Town of Kindersley says engaging with students was the main priority of establishing the successful Youth Council and while it has been redesigned, remains a success after eight years.
It leaves an impression, says McMillan, with a lot of youth councillors saying that they are more aware of how the town is run from budgetting to everything that goes into planning for a new town park.
Participants are also more aware of how much of an impact they can make around the town.
After fundraising for the Aquatic Centre for several years, something that affects young people directly, the council took it one step further and started fundraising for organizations outside their normal sphere, says McMillan.
“They started to get involved in different organizations and seeing outside of just things that will benefit them in the long run.”
Fundraising efforts and bringing forth resolutions to council are all dependant on what the students want to push for, says McClelland.
Each meeting will have a learning topic and a discussion topic to see what concerns the students have, says McClelland.
“Most importantly we’re building relationships with the students. If there is minimal discussion topics, hopefully they’ll learn more about the municipal government process.”
With this being the first Youth Council of its kind in Humboldt and only the second of its kind in the province, McClelland says it is whatever the youth want to make of it and where they see the value, whether that is getting together with other students to discuss city issues or learning about how their city is run.
“Students are our hidden gems and they want to get things done so we want to show what these students can do and show they care about their community.”
It is not just about the events that students are getting involved in, says McMillan. The program has opened up the community to include youth in more ways than just having them present at the table.
“There’s a willingness to listen and incorporate their ideas into things.”
McClelland will be accepting applications until Sept. 30 with the first Youth Council being planned for the middle of October.
