Three students from Brooks Secondary School presented a compelling case advocating for longboard users at the City of Powell River committee of the whole meeting April 17.
As members of the Youth Council, Jason Foulds, Shaelynn Brown and Riley McKenzie came away from the meeting with the assurance that council would look at options for creating opportunities and locations for longboard users to practice safely in the community.
Councillor Russell Brewer, who holds the sports and recreation portfolio, said he would explore ways to meet the needs of a sport which is growing in popularity in the city.
Councillor Jim Palm organized the Youth Council to shadow city council and engage in the civic process. The spirit of the project brings the students in direct contact with the purpose and function of local government and provides a hands-on approach to making change in the community.
Each of six students including Victoria Murphy, Malcolm McDonald and Hunter Stevens, are tasked with opening lines of communication within the student body at the school in order to identify ongoing issues and to work out and present possible solutions. Once issues are identified, the students must present their case to the committee of the whole, and, subsequently, to city council if issues are slated for further investigation and discussion.
Because the students are willing to advocate and present to council, “it creates an opportunity for them to have a positive effect on their community and affect change,” said Mayor Dave Formosa. “The main objective for the students is to provide young people with a voice to represent their views in the wider community and to encourage youth participation in civic affairs.”
Hunter said the group is still in the early stages of the program, but that it has so far been a rewarding experience. “It’s to get the youth involved with local government and to put our ideas into it,” he said. “We have regular meetings and we have a member of the city staff in the meeting with us to help.”
Hunter said there was an application process and from the students who applied, six were chosen to represent the student body.
“It gives us something to do that’s different,” he said. “Since we’re such a diverse group, the six of us speak for different social groups. It’s great to see how things are done inside the city.”
