This township is among five rural Ontario communities chosen to take part in a pilot project on the creation of youth advisory councils.
Last July, Mapleton council passed a resolution supporting the creation of a local youth council and directed staff to work with the North Wellington Coalition for Youth Resiliency on its formation.
Having a youth council up and running was among the reasons the township was selected for Parks and Recreation Ontario’s Play Works Youth Engagement projects.
“The hope is that Mapleton will become a leader in this front because you have almost a year under your belt,” Jason Cranny, a youth engagement worker representing Parks and Recreation Ontario, told council on May 24.
“I do come bearing funds,” said Cranny, noting the program provides seed money for development of youth councils.
Cranny explained the program provides $1,000 to offset meeting costs for the youth council and an additional $2,250 (3 x $750) for costs associated with any training the youth councils wish to take advantage of.
Meeting costs could include things such as refreshments and materials for council meetings, training events and travel. Use of the funding can be determined by each community, Cranny said, pointing out there are no restrictions on the funding’s use other than the emerging youth council decides how to best use it to support its development.
The program’s aim is to encourage youth, including unconnected and/or marginalized youth, to become more actively engaged in leadership and advocacy positions.
Play Works, as a group of organizations concerned about the future of Ontario youth, is supporting the development of youth advisory councils in rural Ontario communities with funding through a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. In addition to Parks and Recreation Ontario, other members of the Play Works partnership include: 4-H Ontario, YMCA Ontario, Arts Network for Children and Youth, Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada and Ophea (a not-for-profit organization that champions healthy, active living in schools and communities).
In the first year of the Trillium Grant, five communities are being provided with seed money and access to a “community mentor” to help establish their councils. The goal is that the group will continue to be supported by the local community at the end of the year.
Five new communities will have similar opportunities in each of year two and three of the grant, for a total of 15 new Youth Advisory Councils operating at the end of the grant.
A comprehensive manual known as a Youth Advisory Toolkit will be provided as a resource to each community involved. A community mentor trained in using the toolkit will also be assigned.
Cranny, who lives in Owen Sound and is currently working as a mentor for the program in Kincardine, said he anticipated he would be the mentor assigned to Mapleton.
The participating community is required to have an adult/staff liaison supporting the development of the council and who will act as the primary contact for both the mentor and Parks and Recreation Ontario.
Mapleton economic development coordinator Jaclyn Dingwall currently acts as coordinator for the local youth advisory council.
Council directed staff to prepare a bylaw authorizing the mayor and clerk to sign the memorandum of understanding regarding the pilot project for consideration at the next meeting of council.
“I think we’ve probably got one of the best youth groups here and we’re very proud of them,” commented Mayor Neil Driscoll.
