The City of Lacombe welcomed Grade 6 students from all over the City to participate in Mayor for a Day.
“It is an annual program where we invite Grade 6 kids to write an essay on what they think makes a good leader and why they think they would be a good leader,” Sonya Beauclair, Recreation and Culture administrative assistant, said. “The mayor reads them all and picks a student from each Grade 6 class to come out and meet with Council.
“They do a tour of City hall and the Public works building and then they come back and get to participate in a Mock Council meeting.”
Mayor Grant Creasey said he read a lot of interesting topics from the students.
“There was a lot of interesting topics,” he said. “It is always enjoyable and refreshing to see really how well informed our youngsters are in this City.
“Many of the same issues that are contentious for their parents seem to filter through and they aren’t afraid to bring them forward.”
Beauclair said the day allows students to get an idea how municipal government works first-hand.
“It is great to give them the opportunity to learn more about it and they get to see how it works,” she said. “The mock council lets them see what council actually does and they get to experience it.
“In some of the essays, they have talked about being a politicial leader of some sort and this is a great way to see if it is actually something they are interested in.”
Creasey added, “I think that it is always good for youngsters to be aware of government. The younger they teach them, the better as far as I am concerned.
“Grade 6 seems to be the chosen path for Alberta Education and it seems to be working well because we have some well-informed, creative individuals who are more than willing to speak their mind. It is great to see.”
Littering was a reoccurring concern for the students, something the City is working with them with.
“We talk with them on ideas on how to reduce it and come up with methods to encourage other kids not to litter,” Beauclair said.
Creasey said the mock council meeting helps the students learn to debate.
“It helps with their debating skills and it is refreshing to see them bring up some of the arguments that are important to the City,” he said.
todd.vaughan@lacombeexpress.com
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