A final presentation from the Weyburn Youth Council was made last night during the regular July meeting of Weyburn City Council.

They outlined the highlights of their term, which was focused primarily on mental health in young people.

City Councillor Jeff Richards, the Youth Council's official resource on City Council, said he is very proud of all they have accomplished.

"Every Youth Council that we've had has gotten progressively stronger as the program evolves," he commented. "This particular one, they set out a couple of very clear goals at the start of their term, the things they wanted to work on, and they did that. They were relentless in their pursuit of the things that they wanted to see happen, which was just excellent."

The first Youth Council began in the fall of 2017, with Landon Field, then in Grade 11, in the role of Youth Council Mayor. He remained in the role until he graduated from Weyburn Comprehensive School in 2019. The second Mayor of Youth Council was Megan Ebel, and Mayor this past term was Jaylynn Haupstein.

"Every council gets a little bit stronger, they get a little more depth. They get a little more confidence, and they get a little more vision, which really is my favorite part of City Council," expressed Richards. "It makes me very proud to work with them."

He said he posts regularly on social media this very sentiment, that he is proud to work with the Youth Council.

"But I genuinely mean that, because it is never fluffy with Youth Council, this one more so than ever," he noted. "One of the goals they set this year was to really address and identify mental health, particularly among their peers, naturally around the entire community, but particularly in young people."

"They brought very specific examples, and they asked for very specific resources which, in COVID times, we still managed to get to them to the best of our abilities. They were very focused on that, and I'm pretty certain that work will continue into next year."

Three of this year's five members will need to be replaced as they move on in their lives. Richards said applications are open now.

"What we would look for is is is people that want to come to the table to to spark conversation. People don't want to come to the table to maybe make change in our community positive change," shared Richards.

"Although the Youth Council doesn't get a vote at City Council, they most assuredly have the ear of City Council. They attend the City Council meetings, and they do make recommendations to City Council, that I can tell you."

"Council takes it very seriously, because these are the future leaders of our society," he said. "I would definitely encourage any young folks that are interested to look at and it and think about it seriously. Talk to your peers."

He suggested hard-working youth interested in the program reach out to himself or a past member of youth council to ask questions.

"I know I kind of wear my Weyburn on my sleeve, but this is just another spot for our community is such a leader, in establishing this Youth Council and it is not just a formality on a piece of paper, it is a functioning, influential piece of our governance system."

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