MAYOR’S YOUTH COUNCIL
In existence since 1992, the Mayor’s Youth Council (MYC) is a program of Youth Central Society, which works in collaboration with The City of Calgary to represent the voice of Calgary’s youth. The Mayor’s Youth Council provides youth an opportunity to effect change, represent youth in regards to issues that matter to them, and help to create a city where the unique youth perspective contributes to a strong and sustainable community.
HOW IT WORKS
The Mayor’s Youth Council is a committee of 21 youth between the ages of 12-18. The committee is divided into three sub-committees, that meet once a week. Every year of the Mayor’s Youth Council is different, as the events and projects are up to the committee to decide. In the past, committees have hosted events, conducted surveys, written reports and organized contests that shed light on youth issues in Calgary. Recruitment takes place in August/September of each year.
Recruitment for the Mayor’s Youth Council is now closed for the 2022-2023 program year.
ART OF AWARENESS YOUTH ART CONTEST
Art of Awareness is a contest aimed to provide youth (ages 12-18) or still attending high school, in Calgary with an opportunity to share their thoughts on issues that youth in the city face. This can be done through a variety of mediums. We want youth to share the challenges they feel need to be brought to attention and addressed.
Submissions will need to fit within the categories of written work, visual art, or film/audio and will be judged based on a points system by members of the Mayor’s Youth Council and Calgary artists.
The winners from each category will be granted a $100 honorarium and have their work displayed in a City of Calgary facility. Submissions are open from March 13th and will close May 13th. If you have any questions, please contact us at myc@youthcentral.com.
FREE. PERIOD. PROJECT YOUTH ART CONTEST
The Free. Period. Project Art contest is hosted by Youth Central with support from the City of Calgary and the Calgary Public Library.
Through the Free. Period. Project free pads and tampons are available in select City and Library facilities to improve access to period products. Not having access to period products can affect the participation, concentration, confidence, and performance of menstruating Calgarians in the classroom, in the workplace and in everyday life.
As part of this project, we are making the dispensers more inviting, by asking youth ages 12-18 or still in high school, to design artwork to be wrapped onto the dispensers in City of Calgary and Calgary Public Library facilities. The contest is now closed, stay tuned for information on the winners!
MAYOR FOR A DAY
Every year, the Mayor’s Youth Council accepts and reviews applications for their Mayor for a Day essay/video contest! The Mayor for a Day contest asks youth to submit three ideas they would want to be implemented to make Calgary an even better place to live. The chosen essay writer will work alongside Mayor Nenshi for the day and will discuss their 3 things for Calgary with City of Calgary staff, participate in a media scrum and other planned activities.
YOUTH HACKATHON
In 2019 we hosted a Virtual Innovation Challenge, all done online. Congratulations to Affinity, the winners of our 2019 Virtual Innovation Challenge! The winning pitch from Affinity, our 2019 Virtual Innovation Challenge can be found here.
THIS PROGRAM IS SPONSORED BY
