Youth on the Sunshine Coast now have another chance to influence political decisions in their community with the establishment of a youth council.
The Sunshine Coast Youth Council (SCYC) aims to “make a difference and provide a youth perspective on issues facing our communities,” with a focus on community support, infrastructure and the environment, said Grade 12 Elphinstone Secondary student and Town of Gibsons Youth councillor Gravity Guignard, who introduced the newly-formed group to Gibsons councillors at a regular council meeting on May 18.
Work on the SCYC started last year by Guignard and former Gibsons youth councillor Eilis Mackenzie and was formally established in January, with 13 members from Elphinstone Secondary, SPIDER and Chatelech Secondary schools.
The SCYC has already voted in co-presidents Cadence Tuplin and Izabella Biddulph to take the helm once Guignard and Mackenzie leave their positions next year as they head to university.
At the May 18 meeting Guignard ran through a number of action-items, with improvements to transit emerging as a dominant theme.
Roads and improved bike lanes, public washrooms and better transit were identified as top infrastructure priorities, while electric buses and safe bike lanes were also raised as environmental priorities, among others.
The group narrowed their focus to two priorities for community support: advocating for increased food security program and free or reduced transit fares for students and those on lower incomes.
Free transit to youth was supposed to be offered as a pilot program by the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) but didn’t move forward because of the pandemic.
“Because we don’t have other methods of transportation and we live in a rural area, this is definitely something we could see improving,” she said of transit service.
The group plans to appear as a delegation when relevant topics appear on local government agendas.
Gibsons Mayor Bill Beamish recommended to council they write a letter to congratulate the group and offer support on initiatives, including communication with the public.
