Six Tiny Township youth set out last year to inspire people around them.
This week, it was clear the young people had an effect on Midland town councillors
"I think this is great. It's one of the best deputations we have had in five years," said Coun. Cody Oschefski."This is what I wanted to get rolling with Midland council five years ago, and you guys have done it. The presentation was great, you guys are well-spoken; you should be proud; your parents should be proud."
The Ward 2 councillor made the comments after the youth had completed their presentation to council.
In the deputation, the members of the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) from Tiny Township informed council of the upcoming North Simcoe Youth Symposium on May 5, 2020.
Kennedy Pestill said the idea for the symposium was brought to the committee by Bonita Desroches, director of recreation, Tiny Township.
"We wanted to get involved in something that would have a big impact on youth," Pestill told MidlandToday. "We were just starting up the committee and we didn't have anything tying us down. The group applied to the RBC Future Launch Community Challenge to be able to offer the symposium.
"When we applied for this we knew there wasn't a big chance we would make it, but we just wanted to try and inspire people," said Pestill.
The 14-year-old Tiny Township resident said through the symposium the group wants to educate youth on some subjects they don't learn at school "like learning how to apply for jobs or learning how to help out in the community or learning how to communicate and become involved with people with special needs and all of these different things," said Pestill.
The YAC members explained to council that they're mandated to act as a positive advocate for youth in the area, to actively seek input from youth on important matters, to provide leadership experience for youth, and to facilitate youth initiatives, such as the symposium and the annual Youth of the Year Award.
"This is absolutely fantastic," said Coun. Carole McGinn. "I was looking forward to this."
This is the first time we're doing this," said Jaelen Josiah, recreation administrative coordinator, Tiny Township. "They put the motion forward to council and they asked for $500 for this. Part of that money they acquired was put towards a tree in the name of the youth that will win the award. It is furthering environmental sustainability."
Mayor Stewart Strathearn wanted to know how people could nominate a youth.
"The application mirrors our senior of the year award," said Jaelen Josiah, the recreation administrative coordinator for Tiny Township.
Josiah said the YAC will reach out to local media, elementary schools and feeder schools when the applications open on Feb. 28.
"It can be self-nominated or it can be a nomination by a person in the community, a principal, a teacher," said Josiah. "They would submit a one-pager explaining why the youth should receive the award and it comes back to our committee for deliberation and we score each application on a scoring matrix we have."
McGinn asked how council could support the group. The youth suggested the town could waive the cost of renting the North Simcoe Sports and Recreation Centre in Midland or donate $960 for snacks and food for the day.
Deputy Mayor Mike Ross explained that council couldn't waive fees but invited the group to apply for funding through the town's grant's committee.
The YAC officially came together in 2019 to provide a voice for the youth in the area. The six were chosen from among 60 applicants.
Tristan Drury, 14, said he joined to get volunteer hours and make some more money, besides what he was earning while babysitting.
Josiah explained each committee member receives a small honorarium.
Pestill said the YAC members have been volunteering around the township at various local events.
"We're planning to help out at the summer barbecue at Perkinsfield Park," she said. "We've volunteered at the winter carnival that just happened in our community. Just trying to get ourselves involved a little bit."
Drury said he thought the symposium was important because it would give youth an opportunity to learn how to deal with other people and help them make friends. He said they'd already learned how to create a presentation and deliver it in front of council.
"The little things are really important," said Pestill. "Tiny isn't necessarily a small community, it's very large, but the population isn't as big as you would see in a big city. It's really important to try and get everyone together as one.
"At all of these events we volunteer at, you'll see a majority of the Tiny population coming in and all participating and having a good time together, bringing together everyone of all ages," said Pestill.
