(Photo submitted by Sydney Whiting)

By Justin Goulet

Lethbridge’s Youth Advisory Council recruiting new members

Jun 13, 2021 | 8:00 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Youth in Lethbridge interested in getting involved with local politics have a chance to do so.

The City of Lethbridge’s Youth Advisory Council (YAC) is recruiting four new members. A grade 12 student at Chinook High School, who is set to attend the University of Lethbridge in the fall, is one of the YAC’s current members.

Sydney Whiting told LNN that the group is “a collection of students and youth from throughout Lethbridge which represent our various school boards as well as the greater youth population to engage with the municipal government and try to bring youth issues to front of mine, as well as to advocate on behalf of that population and work together within the community to bring those issues to front of mind.”

Whiting was appointed as a public member of the council back in January, on a two-year term. She noted that they’re recruiting people aged 15 to 25 who are currently in school, taking a gap year or even out working in the city. Whiting commented that the YAC wants “to represent all voices in Lethbridge.”

“We focus kind of on three main disciplines through advocacy, education and engagement.”

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She explained that in the past, projects included voicing support for various city bylaws and support towards the ban on conversion therapy in Lethbridge. Whiting added that, “we did a bit of a review on the municipal development plan of this year.”

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The YAC has also helped generate and provide resources for youth services at local community centres.

Whiting added that, “more recently, we’ve been trying to provide virtual engagement forums for the community.”

The YAC held a virtual session on racial discrimination last fall and, not long ago, hosted a ‘COVID-19 recovery forum’ that brought together health professionals, business and education representatives to discuss the economic and health recovery from the pandemic in the community, as well as talks on the Fall 2021 academic year.

Whiting said her strong interest in politics and municipal government pushed her towards getting involved with the YAC.

She told LNN, “I love Lethbridge. I love contributing to the community that we’re building here. I also have a strong interest in politics and municipal governance, so this was a super cool opportunity to work directly and have access to people within the municipal government.”

“To be able to have that dialogue with elected representatives is very cool and it gives youth a voice at the table when making future decisions, and the ability to take on projects that we feel represent the interests of who we are trying to represent is also a cool, open-ended opportunity to try and make change in the areas that interest you.”

Whiting added that “in short, it’s a really cool group of people, all super motivated to help the community.”

“The opportunities that arise from working directly within the municipal governance model is invaluable. I’m looking to go into political science so it informs what I would like to pursue, but people from all backgrounds and educational experiences and networks come together and bring issues forward to create positive change within our community, which I think is a pretty cool thing.”

Whiting noted that it’s expected applications for the YAC will be open by mid-July. Anyone interested in joining can keep tabs through the City of Lethbridge’s website here and on the YAC’s Instagram and Twitter feeds.