Table of contents

Overview

Students are important partners in our education system and Alberta's government believes student voices should play a role in shaping it.

The Minister's Youth Council gives students opportunities to share input and perspectives on provincial programs and initiatives.

Student engagement initiatives:

  • empower students as leaders of their learning
  • provide opportunities to build positive working relationships with education partners
  • engage students as leaders of change in their communities
  • support leadership development for students at school and community levels
  • honour the capability and capacity of students to engage as authentic education partners

  • Benefits for students

    • Practice and acquire skills for a successful future.
    • Ownership and sense of responsibility for learning and learning environment.
    • Understanding of diverse opinions.
    • Dialogue and negotiation skills.
    • Greater understanding of governance within Alberta’s education system.
    • Increased leadership ability.
    • Role in driving change.
    • New relationships with a diverse group of students and adults.
    • Improved critical thinking, knowledge application and problem solving skills.
    • Develop the skills to become effective participating citizens.

  • Benefits for schools

    • Improved relationships between students, teachers, parents, school leaders and education system leaders.
    • Programming and policies informed by student input.
    • Students take responsibility and ownership of their learning and school community.
    • Supports and promotes a welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environment.

  • Benefits to system and province

    • Collaborative relationships with education partners.
    • Access to valuable input provided by students with a diversity of opinions, ideas and lived experiences.
    • Improved decision making with a better understanding of students’ varied needs.
    • A more responsible education system that reflects greater diversity and inclusiveness.

Minister’s Youth Council

The Minister’s Youth Council consists of about 40 junior and senior high students with diverse interests, identities, backgrounds and perspectives from all regions of Alberta. Students on the council provide their perspectives on a number of education topics.

Students are members of the Minister’s Youth Council for a 10-month term that aligns with the school year. During the school year, the council attends three meetings. Meetings typically occur in-person, but are currently being held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recruitment

Recruitment for the 2022/23 council is now complete.

Each council contains a minimum of 32 new members and a maximum of 8 returning members.

Eligibility

Students in Alberta are able to apply if they meet the following criteria:

  • Junior or senior high school student between the ages of 14 and 19 as of September 1 of that year
  • Able to commit to 3 weekend meetings during the school year in the fall, winter and spring

Factsheet

Minister's Youth Council Fact Sheet

2021/22 Members

Shaaf Babar
Fort McMurray School Division

Nick Bazhanov
Calgary School Division

Andrew Beingessner
Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School

Erin Berry
Christ the Redeemer Catholic Separate School Division

Harry Brar
Tempo School

Amanda Brouwer
Central Alberta Christian High School Society

Justin Brown
Renert School Foundation

Grace Churchill
Pembina Hills School Division

Sarah Clark
Calgary School Division

Hamna Daud
Fort McMurray Roman Catholic Separate School Division

Cameron Davies
Rundle College Society

Katherine Dennis
West Island College Society of Alberta

Mikka Doll
Medicine Hat Roman Catholic Separate School Division

Lexis Elliott
Wild Rose School Division

Lu Fraser-Suarez
Edmonton School Division

Morgan Gillis
Lakeland Roman Catholic Separate School Division

Chloe Goodwin
Palliser School Division

Damian Gryshik
Parkland School Division

Daisy Hagens
Christ the Redeemer Catholic Separate School Division

Darian Hazzard
Lakeland Roman Catholic Separate School Division

Erika Heise
Grande Yellowhead School Division

Jiya Jakher
Calgary School Division

Raneet Kahlon
Calgary School Division

Jay Knopf
Foothills Academy Society

Josephin Lemofouet Tschoupdop
Edmonton School Division

Zoe Lenci
Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Separate School Division

England Metcalfe
Foothills School Division

Isaac Mork
West Island College Society of Alberta

Brady Nanooch
Wild Rose School Division

Sarah Niznik
Grasslands School Division

Neel Patel
Fort McMurray School Division

Nathan Reath
Koinonia Christian School − Red Deer Society

Tacey Robertson
Parkland School Division

Tanealle Shade
Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Separate School Division

Mariam Sharaf
Greater North Central Francophone Education Region

Moses Smith
Livingstone Range School Division

Zach Stoddard
Elk Island Catholic Separate School Division

Elliot Strawson
Rocky View School Division

Margaret Wideman-Lyon
Battle River School Division

Shannon Wong
Westmount Charter School Society

Alice Yang
Edmonton School Division

District-level councils

Some school authorities have district-level student councils. These are teams of students who represent the student population from elementary to high school. Usually, the councils work with their school authority leadership and board trustees on educational issues and topics that impact students.

Not only is a district-level student council another opportunity for student engagement, the councils provide meaningful input to school authorities and schools.

District-level councils play different roles depending on the level of engagement students have with system leadership, and on desired outcomes. Councils can:

  • serve an advisory role offering advice to school boards or senior leadership on policies or initiatives
  • help create policy or lead design projects at their schools
  • play a collaborative role with their school authorities by participating in decision-making processes

Regardless of the model or role, the intent is that students are able to provide input on initiatives that impact their educational experiences.

Setting up a council is a collaborative effort requiring support from school authority leaders, school leaders, teachers, parents and students.

Contact

Connect with the Student Engagement Team:

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-289-1352
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Email: [email protected]

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