Gibsons’ first youth councillors are wrapping up their term, which expires with the end of the school year.
The youth councillor program was started by Mayor Bill Beamish shortly after he took office, based on similar initiatives he’d seen at a work in other communities.
But it wasn’t until February that Elphinstone Secondary students Sacha Stipec and Jason Lewis were chosen to fill the positions from a group of five applicants.
At their final council meeting June 18, they reflected on the experience.
Lewis said it’s been a privilege to see the inner workings of the Town and be part of the growing involvement of young people in the community.
“The main point I will take away from this experience of being involved with the Town is not to do with politics, but to do with the people I’ve met. Every single person inside the Town and out and across the political spectrum has been nothing but supportive of myself and Sacha and the youth councillor position,” Lewis said.
“The youth councillor position has a great potential if taken advantage of. I look forward to seeing what the next pair of youth councillors and the ones after them can accomplish.”
Lewis also said he’d like to see the idea taken up by Sechelt and the Sunshine Coast Regional District so that students on council become accepted as an ordinary position.
Stipec said she too appreciated how supportive residents, Town staff and councillors have been. “So far not a single person has brought up the fact that they didn’t elect me,” Stipec joked. “People in Gibsons tend to be pretty vocal about these things, so this is quite an achievement.”
Joking aside, Stipec said she’s seen a lot of positive public participation in Town business since joining council.
“Every info session and council meeting that I’ve attended has been full of people sharing their unique experiences and opinions. This robust community engagement is part of what makes living in a town like Gibsons so special,” Stipec said. “Having a student council member shows people that their voices matter in the community regardless of their age or walk of life.”
Beamish said Stipec and Lewis have offered valuable insights and questions during their brief time on council.
“We’re looking forward to September when we can have two additional youth councillors joining us and follow in the footsteps of these students who we are very proud of,” Beamish said.
Stipec and Lewis were presented with their official council nameplates as a keepsake and cheques from the Rotary Club to help with their post-secondary education.
“In the fall Jason and I will be leaving Gibsons to go off to university, but the experiences we’ve shared with this community will stay with us long after we’re gone,” Stipec said.
