Local Government Week will be celebrated Oct. 18 to 24, by municipalities throughout Ontario and the town plans to be no exception.
Minto council is recognizing the week with a variety of activities, three which might be of specific interest to students, including an essay contest, drawing contest, and a school presentation by councillors or staff. Other activities will include free public skating at the town’s three arenas, a display of historical documents and artifacts related to municipal government, and an open house at Minto’s administration building on Oct. 22 from 7 to 9pm.
“Local Government Week provides an opportunity for the Town of Minto to build awareness of the responsibilities of and possible careers in local government as well as the specific strategic directions of the Town” said Mayor David Anderson. “Students will be able to gain a better understanding of how the functions of local government affect their daily life. With this knowledge Minto’s students can play a role in the decision-making process; becoming actively engaged members and future leaders in the community”.
The essay contest is for:
– grades 10, 11 and 12 school age students; and,
– grades 7, 8 and 9 students on What local government responsibility does the Town of Minto undertake which makes the most difference in your life?
Along with an age appropriate gift, the student with the best essay in each of the age groups will have the opportunity to be the co-Mayor and co-Deputy-mayor, respectively for a portion of the council meeting on Oct. 21. The essays will also be published in a local paper.
The criteria for the essay contest are:
– maximum of one page, double sided;
– double spaced;
– 12 point font typed on a computer, or legibly handwritten; and
– a minimum of 350 words. The essay needs to include the student’s name, phone number, grade, and school name.
The second activity is a drawing contest for grades 3-6 students on “What do you like best about the Town of Minto?
Along with an age appropriate gift, the student with the best drawing in that category will have the opportunity to have the drawing framed and hung in the town hall until October 2010.
The criteria for the drawing contest are:
– maximum of one entry per student;
– one 8½-by 11-inch sheet of paper; and
– hand drawn with pencil or pencil crayon.
The drawing will need to include the student’s name, phone number, grade and school name on the back of the drawing.
Essays and drawings can dropped off or mailed to the Town of Minto, Attention: Local Government Week, 5941 Highway 89, Harriston, ON N0G 1Z0, by Oct. 13. The winner will be notified by Oct. 19 at 5pm.
The third youth-oriented activity is the opportunity, if requested by a school, for a councillor an employee, or both to present on the town’s responsibilities, the presenter’s role, and the community’s role in the decision making process. Arrangements can be made through the town for those presentations.
Local Government Week was introduced in October 2008 by the Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario in partnership with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and in consultation with the Council of Directors of Education of Ontario, the Ministry of Education, participating Ontario municipalities and the Ontario Teachers Federation.
For more detailed information the Local Government Week, visit www.town.minto.on.ca.
