Kindersley’s Youth Committee was recently recognized on a provincial level as it became the recipient of a Saskatchewan Municipal Award (SMA) on the first of this month.
According to the SMA’s website, roughly four accolades were awarded, and out of those four, Kindersley’s Youth Committee placed third.
“We were surprised when we first heard the news,” said Tessa Sautner, Chair of Kindersley’s Youth Committee. “Partly because we didn’t even know the award existed, but also because our efforts were so widely recognized.” Saunter further noted that as a committee, the members are dedicated to seeing Kindersley, in particular Kindersley’s youth, move forward in personal and leadership growth. “We work hard to achieve that goal, so when it’s recognized at a provincial level, it’s a humbling and proud moment at the same time.”
On the SMA website, the Youth Committee was recognized as having “established a Youth Committee to revitalize youth engagement, [to] increase the contributions to young people, and support an intergenerational connection.”
Kindersley’s Youth Committee is only in its 2nd year after being reborn from the previous Youth Council (2009-2015). In 2015, the council was in danger of dying out when several members stepped forward and conducted an analysis of the program. Carefully considering the pros and cons of each aspect of the platform, these members formatted a new one, now known as the Youth Committee, and designed it to meet the needs and expectations of youth today.
The committee’s current members include Tessa Sautner, Committee Chair; Kathryn Sawatzky, Vice Chair; Jace Borgal, Treasurer; Briana McBride, Secretary; Colton Leismeister, Communications Coordinator; Jillian McArthur, Member; Jocelyn Cannon, Member; and Shayla Olafson, Member; Joshua Enns-Wind, Member. Each of these members has a unique platform such as anti-bullying, arts & culture, and drug awareness; a creative combination of these platforms is what gives this Youth Committee power to its punch.
The Youth Committee will be receiving its award in Regina sometime in February 2018. The committee has not yet decided who will make the trip to receive the award on behalf of the whole committee.
The Saskatchewan Municipal Awards program was established in 2006 by the Municipal Capacity Development Program with the joint effort of several other programs in municipal and Saskatchewan government. According to the SMA website, it seeks to “celebrate excellence and innovative practices of Saskatchewan’s municipalities.” The SMA will again be accepting nominations starting in June 2018.
Image Source: Town of Kindersley
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