1. Advise
   To keep Council informed on the important matters affecting youth by offering a forum for discussion and feedback on initiatives and opportunities which are identified as topics of interest to youth.

2. Engage
   Lead the Municipality’s youth engagement strategy. Consult peers directly and advise on best practices and emerging trends for communicating with youth demographics. Assist the Municipal communications team in translating important consultation material to engaging content and experiences.

3. Showcase
   To act as a positive advocate for youth by identifying youth who are making a difference in their schools and community and showcase these examples to recognize, inspire and motivate.

Municipal Commitment to Value

The Mayor’s Youth Advisory Committee commits to providing opportunities for youth to:

1. learn how to engage and influence local government to improve your community

2. shape local programs and services to address youth interest and accessibility

3. help local government incorporate youth perspective

4. develop leadership skills.

The Mayor’s Youth Advisory Committee will maintain open membership, welcoming North Grenville youth grades 7 through 12 and under the age of 21, the Mayor as an ex-officio member, and up to two (2) members of Council, all of whom have voting rights.  There is no minimum or maximum number of members.

To be considered to sit as a member of the Committee, youth will be required to complete an online committee application to confirm that they meet membership criteria.  With open membership, appointment to the Committee will be confirmed by the Municipal Clerk and will not require appointment by way of Municipal By-Law.

The term of the Committee will be concurrent with the term of Council. As youth navigate changing life stages and priorities, it is acknowledged that this Committee may require more frequent and targeted recruitment to ensure diverse representation, including youth from all local secondary schools. Membership applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis throughout the term.

The Municipality of North Grenville is committed to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in every aspect of its work, including appointments to advisory committees. An increase in diversity can assist in promoting equal opportunities and memberships with a diversity of lived experiences. A more diverse membership will contribute to the work of each advisory committee. Each advisory committee shall endeavour to have balanced representation from various equity- and inclusion-seeking groups including, but not limited to, people with disabilities, francophones, Indigenous people, newcomers, older adults, racialized community members, rural residents, 2SLGBTQIA+, those facing socioeconomic disadvantage, women, minority faith-based and spiritual group members, and youth.

A staff person(s) from the Parks, Recreation, and Culture department will attend as a liaison to the Municipality. Representatives from youth serving organizations may attend meetings as liaisons.

Committee Chair

The position of Meeting Co-Chair will rotate among interested members as a leadership development opportunity, typically confirmed at the previous meeting. As presentations to Council are deemed necessary, the Committee shall appoint representation from interested members. The Mayor will act as a Co-chair.

Advisors

The Committee may invite additional content experts to attend regular meetings and to present at specific meetings when deemed by the Committee to be appropriate and helpful.

Meetings

Regular meetings shall be held once every month (except July and August) – either in person or via an accessible virtual platform. Additional meetings shall be held at the call of the Mayor.

Agenda packages will be sent out the week prior to the meetings and published on the Municipality’s website. Draft minutes will be distributed by email to each Committee member by the Parks, Recreation, and Culture department within one (1) week following the meeting.

Quorum

Quorum of the Committee shall be 50% +1 of the members.

Votes by the Committee will be held at regular or special meetings. Decision making of the group shall be by majority vote.

Department Jurisdiction

Parks, Recreation, and Culture – The Director is responsible to ensure that all associated legislative responsibilities to the Committee are fulfilled.

Staff Contact

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Administrative Support

The Clerk delegates authority to the Parks, Recreation, and Culture Executive Assistant to provide minute taking. Agenda preparation and distribution will be done by the Parks, Recreation, and Culture Executive Assistant in conjunction with the Co-Chairs and Clerk’s division. The Clerk’s division will post the agenda on the Municipal website and via the meeting calendar invitation.

Budget

The Committee will prepare an work plan including budget requests ahead of the budget cycle. The Director of Parks, Recreation, and Culture shall bring forward budget requests of the Committee as part of the Municipal budget process.

Coming soon!