Mentorship program an eye-opener
- Jeanelle Mandes | May 23, 2014
Many high school students from northern communities traveled to Regina earlier this month for the 5th Annual Youth Mentorship Program. This year, there were 29 students in the program from Air Ronge, Buffalo Narrows, Canoe Narrows, Cumberland House, Fond Du Lac and Pinehouse Lake.
This gave students an opportunity to see what options are available to them after completing high school.
The Provincial Capital Commission hosts this program every year with the financial assistance from the Ministry of Education and the Government House Foundation.
"The Youth Mentorship Program shows students the opportunities available to them right here in the province. I hope the young people who attend see that Saskatchewan, in addition to providing exciting job and educational opportunities, offers a vibrant quality of life," said Minister Kevin Doherty in a statement.
The program consisted of various events for the kids such as taking tours of the University of Regina, the First Nations University of Canada, the Government House and the Legislative Building.
Gwen Jacobson, Director of Operations for the Provincial Capital Commission, said the youth prepared for a Mock Parliament by coming up with a new bill to experience how the government works.
"It's an opportunity to learn about governance, learn about the history of the province, and an opportunity to learn about careers in the public service," said Jacobson.
The students debated a bill in the chamber over the use of cell phones in the classroom. They discussed how to argue both sides of proposing a bill in the Legislative Assembly with MLA Doyle Vermette and MLA Buckley Belanger.
The northern kids were introduced in the Legislative Assembly and had the chance to watch Question Period to see the real action.
Mathias Kusch, from Buffalo Narrows whose in grade 10 would like to gain good experiences from this program. Kusch said his school coordinated some of the students to participate in the Youth Mentorship Program this year. He was hesitant at first to attend thinking he was going to be sitting in board room meetings all day but each day was something new and exciting to him and all the other students. He said aside from swimming at the University of Regina, he enjoyed the Mock Parliament.
"It was pretty cool not ever seeing something like that done before and being able to do it for the first time. I dont know how those guys can sit there for so long," said Kusch.