MOOSE JAW - City council has appointed a new Central Collegiate student to sit on this year’s youth advisory committee after the previously appointed candidate resigned at the start of the school year.
Council unanimously approved Nathan Pisio to the advisory board during its Sept. 23 regular meeting. The teen’s term begins immediately and concludes on Monday, June 30, 2025, or until a successor is appointed.
Council also accepted the resignation of former committee member Ben Ansell. The Grade 12 student resigned because he was recently named to the provincial youth council for this school year.
On Aug. 21, the city clerk’s office received an email from Central’s vice-principal saying that Ansell — whom council had appointed on Aug. 12 along with 12 other youths — had to step down from the youth advisory committee, a council report said. Meanwhile, the vice-principal provided an alternate nomination — Pisio — to fill the vacancy.
The report noted that this resignation would usually have been communicated through the committee’s meeting minutes, but that group had not held its first meeting of the 2024-25 term by that August date, the report continued.
The youth committee’s next meeting is Tuesday, Oct. 2.
Pisio will join the following students on this year’s youth advisory committee:
- A.E. Peacock Collegiate: Kaylee Hogeboom and Lucas Kastning
- Vanier Collegiate: Arlyn Dequina and Maria Pouteaux
- Central Collegiate: Drew Amel
- Cornerstone Christian School: Drew Biette and Mateah Purdy
- Riverview Collegiate: Emma Russell and Lexus Schoffer
- Saskatchewan Polytechnic: Altaf Iqbal Mansuri and Nandinee Barot
- École Ducharme: None
The advisory committee has several responsibilities, such as:
- Endeavour to increase positive public awareness and understanding by youths of local government and assist in developing new outreach and/or communication policies, strategies and programs
- To network with peers and community leaders and to participate in a forum that is open, welcoming and fun
- To provide communication between youths of Moose Jaw and city council that will enhance the quality of life, health and well-being of those youths
- Make recommendations on youth recreational opportunities and community activism
- To identify things in the City of Moose Jaw that are valued by youths, including the things that are considered assets, strengths and opportunities in our community
- To act as a positive advocate and provide leadership experience for youths
- To network with student councils and other youth organizations.
Meanwhile, the group’s expectations include:
- Recognize that the chief role of the City of Moose Jaw is to provide exceptional customer service to customers, citizens, visitors of Moose Jaw and each other
- To create a city of communities, a city that cares about its people, the environment and the opportunities to live, work and prosper
- Recognize the importance of teamwork to provide the best possible service to internal and external customers
The next regular council meeting is Monday, Oct. 7.
