Mayor's Youth Council discusses employment, movie night and social issues
By Anneleen Naudts

With laughter and chatter, the lively members of the Caledon Mayor's Youth Council (MYC) wandered into the Town's council chambers one recent Wednesday evening.

Students by day, politicians by night, this group represents Caledon's youth by listening, advocating and facilitating their endeavors.

Filling the Mayor's seat is Robert Simeon, flanked by Chief Administrative Officer Corey Malone, Clerk Matthew Harvey and Wards 2, 3 and 4 representatives Valeria Aguirre-Martin, Kathleen Cassidy and Emma Mcloughlin. They attend Robert F. Hall and Humberview Secondary Schools.

MYC conducts monthly public meetings, which everyone is welcome to attend or present a deputation. Heather Savage, Caledon's manager of programs, recreation and property services, took advantage of this prerogative, and addressed the council on employment opportunities with the Town.

Savage informed MYC of the range of youth employment, volunteer and training opportunities with Caledon; information she said can also be found on the Town's Web site. She gave tips on preparing for a job interview, and stressed the importance of researching the position prior to an interview.

Aguirre-Martin inquired what she should do about not having a resume.Savage suggested resorting to Microsoft Word templates for assistance with resume lay-out. As far as the resume's content goes, she explained it should include anything that shows initiative, such as babysitting or participation in groups.

Savage also introduced MYC to Youth Art Against Violence (YAAV), an initiative within Peel Region to enhance the leadership skills of youth by empowering them to unite with peers in artistic expressions. YAAV, successfully running in Brampton and Mississauga, will be launched in Caledon in March, informed Savage. To help publicize the program, Malone requested 75 flyers to distribute at his school.

Following the deputation, council discussed progress in the organization of its May outdoor movie night. Finding a suitable movie has proved challenging due to public performance rights, a requirement for any movie intended for public viewing. Typically, movies at libraries contain these rights, but several members found the libraries' movies "too educational."They will continue to look for a suitable movie.

Under new business, Simeon tabled the possibility of organizing a volunteer fair. "Anyone who provides youth with opportunities" would be invited to set up a booth, he explained, adding he thought of the idea when he kept running into people who "haven't started their 40 volunteer hours," even though they're in Grade 12. The motion was received favourably, and MYC will set the wheels in motion to organize the fair.

A second motion, initiated by Malone, to invite a member from Act Up to make a delegation was also received favourably. Act Up is a group comprised of Humberview students motivated to take action as a result of taking a world issues class, explained Malone. Under the motto "be an upstander, not a bystander," the group has been spreading the word on world issues. Malone, who told council he was "very interested and moved by Act Up", suggested the group should link with MYC.

MYC was founded in 2004 at the initiative of Mayor Marilyn Morrison.

Simeon said he considered his role as mayor "a great honor."

"I see myself as a representative for youth at the municipal level," he said. "If council has a decision to make that will effect youth, they usually come to us to hear our opinion. It's a great thing to have in Caledon."

Simeon said the biggest challenge for MYC has been "getting our name out there."

"We want more people to realize who we are and what we do," he commented. "This is our main goal for MYC this year, to promote our group."

MYC has been instrumental for youth in the community, and Simeon considered MYC's idea of having a permanent youth skateboard park to be its greatest success.

"We created a survey and asked the youth of Caledon what they wanted in their community," he said. "The results from the survey were that youth wanted a skateboard park."

Simeon, who has lived in Bolton all his life, said he had a pretty good idea of the challenges that face Caledon's youth, but is "very pleased" with the amount of entertainment available."We have a new movie theatre in Bolton, a new arena in Caledon East, the skateboard park in Bolton, and the list continues to grow," he said.

MYC is currently looking for new members between the ages of 14 to 19. For more information, contact myc@caledon.ca.