Barrie councillors reaching out to next generation

When Barrie city councillors resume regular weekly meetings later this month, some new voices will be at one of the tables.

Over the summer, the City's first-ever youth council started meeting. The idea to form the group came last year from Ward 8 Councillor Jim Harris.

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"What came apparent to me the last year of council was we rarely actively seek out or receive input from young people and given that much of what we do is future focused and about building the Barrie of the future, we don't have the futures voice involved in those consultations," Harris said.

"So this is an opportunity to really actively get that voice."

Harris and City staff accepted applications earlier this year from individuals in Barrie who range in age from Gr. 7 to the post-secondary level.

The group's first meeting was in July when they primarily focused on ice-breaker activities before they began more fruitful conversations about the day's issues.

"They talked about affordable housing; they talked about lack of culture; they talked about a job in their field," Harris said. "It's a chance to really engage that voice."

While the youth councilors are aligned mainly on overall goals, the paths leading each individual to city hall differ.

Martin Fisher is a Gr. 11 student in Barrie. He says he's always had an interest in politics and is looking forward to gaining experience and knowledge, specifically on the legal side of politics.

"I'm interested in going into politics in the future," said Fisher. "So I think this was a logical first step for me."

Acknowledging his mother had a significant impact on his decision to join the council, Fisher says that he looks forward to learning from Barrie's elected politicians.

"Hopefully, we get to see Mayor Nuttall here and there just to maybe pick their brains here and there, see how they got to where they are, see how they're their success, and see how I could maybe replicate it."

Other council members are starting their two-year terms with a different perspective.

"It would be nice if I could help somewhat in the arts," says Gr. 9 student Hanna Buoak, who says she is looking forward to learning more about politics. "Whether it'd be performing arts or visual arts or something along the lines of that, that would be kind of, that would be a nice little step."

According to Harris, the youth councillors will largely set the agendas.

"So to really facilitate and to grow civic involvement for young people and let them know that their voice is important and that we need to hear from them to be able to plan with them," said Harris.

The youth council will meet every other month.