SYDNEY, N.S. — Cape Breton’s population may be aging but that’s not stopping municipal council from seeking more input from the area’s youth.
The Cape Breton Regional Municipality is now in the process of resurrecting its youth council as part of an initiative to hear more from a cross-section of the region’s 14-24-year-old demographic. The body was first established in 2015 when it was comprised of 13 students aged 14-18 from across the municipality.
The re-introduction of the youth council that was on hiatus last year was met with enthusiasm by District 11’s Kendra Coombes, who at age 30 is the youngest member of the current edition of CBRM council.
“I have been vibrating with anticipation of getting this back — I could just fall out of my seat with happiness,” said Coombes, who was elected to council in the 2016 municipal election.
“I am excited that we are re-establishing the youth council because we are providing the youth of the CBRM with the ability to actually learn about the functions of municipal government through this hands-on approach and I think it is fantastic.”
According to CBRM communications officer Jillian Moore, there will be some changes to the composition of the youth council. Whereas the inaugural body was comprised of only high school students, this time around the members only have to be between the ages of 14 and 24 and there is no requirement that they have to be students. Moore said the new youth council will ideally have one member from each of the municipality’s 12 districts, just like regional council, and will be guided by an advisory committee that will include two councillors, two CBRM staffers and Carla Arsenault, president and CEO of the Cape Breton Partnership, who will represent the Regional Enterprise Network.
The two councillors named to the committee are Coombes and Amanda McDougall. The pair will help oversee the bi-monthly meetings that will be held in the round council chamber at city hall in Sydney.
“They will be provided with opportunities to discuss topics that are top-of-mind for us as a council as well as for them as youth and we get the benefits of hearing from a constituency that often doesn’t get heard,” said Coombes.
“It’s going to be very beneficial to us and our decision-making because it’s another constituency we have yet to hear from — I hope and I believe it will be a very enriching experience for all of us and our youth.”
While the 2015-2016 youth council was endowed with a budget of $25,000, it is unclear how much if any the body will receive this time. McDougall said she believes it important that the youth council receives some funding to help with whatever forays it may make into the communities of the CBRM.
“I think it’s important they at least have a small budget — it doesn’t have to be anything humungous, but just something that will enable them to go outside of the walls and do some work in the community,” said McDougall.
The next steps in the process include an advisory committee meeting to establish an action plan and timeline. The CBRM will identify prospective members through the local news media, social media and by connecting with school groups at the high school, university and community college levels.
