A group of R.D. Parker Collegiate Grade 12 students, who are participating in city council and committee meetings through the Student Perspectives Expressed At City Council (S.P.E.A.C.C.) initiative, gave a presentation to the School District of Mystery Lake board of trustees Feb. 11.
The students’ current goals are to prepare for upcoming elections and to organize a summer camp to provide a safe and fun place for kids to go when school is out in hopes of reducing youth crime in the city.
The students said the summer camps would provide a number of activities and workshops for developing teamwork, leadership and healthy relationships. They will be inviting RCMP officers, firefighter-paramedics, city councillors, artists and elders to run the workshops and camp volunteers will take participants to destinations including the splash pad and Thompson’s many wolf statues.
The S.P.E.A.C.C. members petitioned the school board to allow them to use Wapanohk Community School as a venue for summer camps that they see as a way to give back to the community they all grew up in.
The students said their participation in municipal politics, which was approved by council at their organizational meeting in early November, has been very productive. They have have been involved in discussions about the new pool construction, budget meetings, public safety discussions, and plans for Canada Day celebrations, as well as several other topics. The group plans to hold elections to select the students who will take over their roles next school year
The trustees agreed to conduct discussions with S.P.E.A.C.C. students regarding the use of Wapanohk for summer camps.
