Cold Lake Youth Council Adjourns for the Summer

The Cold Lake Youth Council have adjourned their meetings for the summer with events planned for August and beyond.

The Youth Council is hosting their “Beach Bash” on Aug. 31 right before school begins again in the fall.

They are also pleased to show off their brand new space. “The Loft” breaks away from the office jungle at the Cold Lake and District FCSS with a small movie theatre room and open space for games. Its debut will happen during the council’s run of Friday movie nights on Aug. 10 and Aug.17.

The young council members organize all the events themselves. While Ada Papiernik helps guide the kids, if they need money or resources, they write the reports and appeal to city council.

Abigail Dinn, deputy mayor of the council, says one of her biggest highlights of last year was organizing a youth conference.

“We all had memories in middle school of going to these conferences and going to have a fun day of school. And we realize looking back that we totally learned that lesson there, I just didn’t realize it because I was rock-climbing while I was doing it,” said Dinn.

“It was called the Power of Youth and you practiced resilience, and talk about confidence because those are those things in middle school that are so hard, so you can try and carry that through to high school.”

Dinn attends Cold Lake High School and was a recipient of the Osum Leaders of Tomorrow award. She says her experience in this type of professional environment led her to eventual career choice of social work.

“The professional skills, the communication skills, and just the overall experience actually has shaped where I want to go. We’ve done some volunteering at SSS as well and I learned that’s where I want to be, this is what I want to do,” said Dinn.

“I don’t think I’d be on the right path like I am now, if I didn’t join Youth Council.”

The council currently consists of eight teens ranging from 12-18 and two representatives who help out, but do not make council decisions. The council’s schedule runs parallel to a school year.

At the beginning of the school year the youngsters run campaigns to run for the three leadership positions: mayor, deputy mayor, and secretary. They meet at the FCSS Centre once a month and anyone in the age range can come to council. They will be looking for new members in the fall.