Officials in the Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s say they’re creating a Youth Advisory Committee to have better representation.
Kerri Penney, the municipality’s director of community development and recreation, says student council and class reps from grades 8-to-12 will make up the committee.
She says it will be directly related to council- they’ll discuss topics councillors are working on, and feedback will be brought back to councillors.
Penney tells The Hawk the committee has been formed as part of a long-term strategy.
“The municipality is working on implementing its 10-year strategic plan- getting a youth perspective and improving communications in the community (are) two priorities of council,” she says. “This kind of achieves both of those things.”
Penney says it’s an opportunity for young people to learn about municipal government, make connections, and also work on community projects.
She says connections will work both ways.
“We have a council that’s super supportive of this project,” she says. “Councillors are excited to go to these meetings, take part and get to know the youth in our community.”
Penney says they’re working on completing terms of reference in December.
She says they hope to have their first meeting in January.