Youth Summits
The Minister of Families’ Youth Leadership Council hosted two Youth Summits – one in Thompson on October 17 and 18, 2022, and the other in Winnipeg on December 13 and 14, 2022, to discuss important issues related to building healthy, modern, youth-friendly communities in our province. Participants included 60 youth ages 15-29, and representatives from youth-serving organizations.
Youth came together to share their ideas and experiences and then bring together their vision with recommendations for the Province of Manitoba. This information will help to inform government leadership on how to adapt programs and services for future generations to create healthy communities throughout Manitoba.
Honourable Rochelle Squires, Minister for Families, provided opening remarks on December 13, 2022, and Honourable Wayne Ewasko, Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning, was also in attendance.
A member of our northern team, led the groups through the summits and created a safe and welcoming space at each event where youth felt comfortable sharing their experiences and thoughts.
Images
- Thompson Youth Summit – Honourable Rochelle Squires, Minister for Families, Kerri Irvin-Ross, CEO of The Link, Billie Jo Thompson, Supervisor of the StreetReach North program and Honourable Wayne Ewasko, Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning
- Thompson Youth Summit – Youth participants and Honourable Rochelle Squires, Minister for Families
- Winnipeg Youth Summit, Freight House – Elder Billy Schibler and Cheryce Onook-Pilling, Youth Summit Facilitator
- Winnipeg Youth Summit, Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre– Breakout group in discussion
About the Youth Leadership Council:
In June 2022, the Manitoba Government announced the creation of the Youth Leadership Council, which is composed of representatives from youth-service organizations, as well as youth ages 15 to 21 who have experience with Manitoba Families programs. The council will be active until 2024 and is co-chaired by Kerri Irvin-Ross, Chief Executive Officer at The Link: Youth and Family Supports.
The Youth Leadership Council reflects the diversity of Manitoba including 2SLGBTQQIA+ youth and engages community experts and youth from across the province to gather their perspectives, insights and advice on current and emerging issues for youth who access services offered by the department including those who:
- are in the care of child and family services agencies,
- live with disabilities,
- live with families that receive Employment and Income Assistance,
- live in Manitoba Housing, and
- have experienced homelessness.
For more information, visit www.gov.mb.ca/fs/youthcouncil