As your City Council, we may be the leaders of today, but we’re also playing a role in nurturing the leaders of tomorrow.
Three to four times a year we meet with the participants of the Abbotsford Youth Commission’s (AYC) Youth Council, a leadership program that gives local high school students the opportunity to work together and get involved in their community. This year’s Youth Council includes 18 Grade 10 to 12 students from 11 schools from across Abbotsford.
Through this collaboration, we can help the students gain a better understanding of how our city works and how to advocate for positive change. By having the opportunity to hold an open dialogue with us, the youths benefit from having their voices heard, while we benefit from hearing what they have to say.
Last month, the Youth Council met with us to discuss the findings of a survey of 138 of their fellow students they conducted on the subject of cultural events, infrastructure and recreation. They shared their results with Mayor and Council, identified areas for improvement and outlined possible solutions.
As your City Council it is our mission to continually improve the quality of life of all residents regardless of age, and the insights we gain from the Youth Council help us to better understand the concerns that are on the minds of young people in our community. It also gives us another perspective to consider when we’re seated around the Council table.
It also means a lot to us to see young people who care strongly about our community and want to help make it an even better place to live, work and play. The leadership skills and civic-mindedness they develop in the Youth Council program are not just for personal gain. As these young people grow and become leaders in our community, all of Abbotsford stands to benefit.
City Council and the Youth Council will next meet for a collaboration event in May for BC Youth Week.
To learn more about the AYC and the Youth Council and how to get involved, please visit their website.
Abbotsford City Council