Sunshine Coast youth are certainly making an impact these days - and in so many positive ways.
In the athletic world, three First Nations youths just returned from Montreal where they competed with the male and female provincial hockey squads at the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships. Lakota Joe and Brennen Mayers from the Sechelt Indian Band made history as they were a part of the first B.C. team to win a national title in the event's 12-year history. Not to be outdone was Talaysay Campo, a member of the Sechelt and Squamish First Nations, who was on the female team. She had a major impact, and the only thing slowing her down was a head injury that pushed her to the sidelines for the remainder of the tournament.
The tryouts for these teams in April were intense with the talent level simply amazing. To have three youths from our community compete with the best at a national level is quite the accomplishment indeed.
We have other youth at Elphi working in a unique drag racing program, another Elphi youth heading to UBC Okanagan on a volleyball scholarship well, you get the picture. Pretty awesome stuff.
With the provincial election a mere four days away on May 14, youth here on the Coast can play a major role in the government that will lead this province in the coming years. Through the Student Vote initiative, as many as five Coast schools will be filling out ballots on May 13 and exercising their democratic rights. And even though their votes will not count until they turn 18, we think it is a great start to see young people getting involved in the political process.
And going beyond was evident when some of our Coast youth went even further in helping the cause by hosting an all candidates forum last Thursday at the Gibsons heritage building.
The alternative school's Social Justice 12 class hosted the just-for-teens event, which was put together in three days. All three riding candidates were on hand: incumbent NDP MLA Nicholas Simons, Liberal Patrick Muncaster and Green Richard Till.
The teens who were on hand to listen and learn about the issues posed some worthy questions about ferry costs, school budgets, marijuana legalization, roadway improvements, public transit and job retention and attraction.
The alternative students who organized this forum should be commended for getting involved in the political process, and we were pleased to see the young voters who came out, asked topical questions and got involved.
There are many adults here on the Coast who are getting older and will be soon passing the torch to the youth of this community. This Tuesday, many young voters have the opportunity to have a voice and make a difference. We have some amazing youth leaders just waiting to run with that torch. It's great to see such a positive step for the future of our community.
- Ian Jacques
