The YNOT BWG Youth Council highlighted 2006.

In February, the Youth Council presented a petition of 500 people to Town Council, calling on the Town to match fundraising for a new skatepark. The petition was accepted and the Town pledged to match all funds raised by the Youth Council. YNOT BWG was also appointed the “official voice of youth” in the Town.

In March, YNOT BWG began to exercise its office as the official voice of youth, sending opinion motions to Town Council every two weeks.

In May, the Youth Council played an integral role in staging the Home Show by organising the entertainment. YNOT BWG also kicked-off its “YNOT Better Bradford” fundraiser for the skatepark, making over a thousand dollars in one weekend.

In July, the Youth Council was pleased Town Council heeded its opinion motions calling for a town Heritage Committee, applauding the committee’s formation and immediately fighting to save historical properties.

August marked the start of a season of great end-of-summer concerts organised by YNOT BWG. With an open-air concert by a portable skatepark at CarrotFest and a concert—complete with a mock police arrest à la U2—at Giant Tiger, the community was pumped for the first region-wide Battle of the Bands!

On 1 September, the Battle of the Bands—a six-hour extravaganza in the arena—entertained over 500 people. Twelve bands performed and Kill Lincoln was crowned the best band in the region! The event made the Youth Council nearly $10 000 for the skatepark.

In October, the Youth Council inaugurated PumpkinFest, a fall fair. Despite the rain dampening the festivities, a BBQ and a few carnival games were enjoyed by over 200 people, marking the start of a great Bradford West Gwillimbury tradition for years to come.

In November, YNOT BWG hosted a Mayoral Debate, attended by over 300 residents. Youth had the opportunity to ask questions, and the debate highlighted the platforms of the candidates, in the closest election in decades.

Also in November, the Youth Council was excited when Mayor Jonkman and the YNOT BWG Executive negotiated for a pledge to cover all outstanding funds for the skatepark up to $115 000 from a generous individual. This pledge meant skatepark planning could be sped up and construction moved closer.

In December, YNOT BWG presented a giant cheque to the Town for $130 000—monies raised by the Youth Council, including the pledge from the charitable donor. Town Council then offered a fourth commitment to build the skatepark and match the fundraising, advising YNOT BWG to present a deputation during the budget negotiations.

The Youth Council, now in the New Year, is confident Town Council will honour its promise and that the skatepark can be built quickly—perhaps by the end of 2007. In this New Year, YNOT BWG will continue to lead by example. The past year was the year of the Youth Council; the future is bright for 2007.

Whaddaya think?

So Whaddaya Think…about a Sk8park

By Jonathan Scott, President, YNOT Bradford West Gwillimbury

A collage of recreation choices has been juggled together by our recreation department. However, despite the well-intended efforts of the department, youth, the so-called “forgotten age group,” are left wanting some facility for recreation.

The Youth Council has identified the need for a town sk8park—a place with tricks and jumps for skateboarders, trick bikers, and even rollerbladers. The problem with meeting the sporting needs of today’s youth is that a large contingent wants what is referred to as “unstructured freedoms.” Teens want recreation that is divorced from parents and officials during our free time; a type of recreation that is more leisurely and offers a “hang-out” atmosphere.

Although many teens participate in this sport, not all do. Nonetheless, because of the nature of the sport, a sk8park gives an opportunity to chill—to be with friends, listen to music, eat some food—that is attractive to all youth; think of it as the soda-shop of my generation.

What is better: youth sk8ing in traffic and slowly eroding curbs in plazas, or youth working, with financial support from corporations and possibly the town government, to create a place for ourselves and then taking care of that place?

It is also proven that sk8parks are a benefit to the town. The more recreation a town possess, the more marketable the real estate therein becomes.

Furthermore, with more recreation facilities, developers begin to pay a greater share of taxes. This removes the tax bears of a portion of the tax as well as creating money to invest in more recreation.

There is even tourism brought to town by the celebrities of the sport and large tournaments that attract many who want to show their perfected tricks.

Today’s youth overwhelming want this facility. The Youth Council is ready to lead on this means of improving our town. Whaddaya think—yea or nay?

(Originally published by The Bradford West Gwillimbury Times, Jonathan is a regular columnist with that paper.)

So Whaddaya Think…about the Youth Council’s Ideas?

By Jonathan Scott, President, YNOT Bradford West Gwillimbury

“I am inclined to think,” said explorer John Cabot upon discovering Canada, “that this is the land God gave to Cain.” Let’s prove him wrong; let’s make our nation an Eden—that is the ideal of the Youth Council and we want to start with Bradford by fixing what is currently wrong.

The Youth Council wants to work to create changes and improvements in our town. Some of these changes will be through initiating discussion whereas rolling up our sleeves and getting to work will create other ameliorations.

The Youth Council quickly decided upon the ideal image for Bradford and conveyed this to the Branding and Marketing Committee. In the minds of today’s youth, Bradford is a “community of caring character.” We are a small town, but we are not small-town hicks. Rather, we are a friendly and caring community where neighbours reach out to each other.

Being the world’s largest producer of carrots is something to be proud of. It is therefore essential to clean up the canal.  The cesspool-calibre canal is a major deterrent to potential tourism to the world’s carrot capital. The canal is disgusting and must be cleaned, and then the marsh, an engineering marvel, can truly be boasted to the world.

The Youth Council is also adamant about cleaning up the town, by purifying the canal, refining our image as a caring community, and by keeping the image of carrots as an accomplishment, not a bad joke.

Okay, maybe we won’t have an Eden, but anything is better than the desert that God gave to Cain.

            Whaddaya think?

(Originally published by The Bradford West Gwillimbury Times, Jonathan is a regular columnist with that paper.)

So Whadday Think…about a Youth Council?

By Jonathan Scott, President, YNOT Bradford West Gwillimbury

Youth want to help. The evidence is clear. There were over forty teens at the first (and thus far only) Sk8park Committee Meeting. Student Council is a large organisation at both local high schools—campaigns for positions involve many candidates. Youth interest in improving the town is real; so is our energy and dedication.

Unfortunately, no matter how young town councillors may think they are, the reality is that our councillors are middle-aged! Where is the youth perspective?

Councillor White had the right idea a few years back when he tried to create a Youth Committee. It just never got off the ground.

Now, with youth chopping at the bit to rebuild the sk8park, with youth needing forty hours of community service to graduate, and, most importantly, youth realizing that the responsibility for the future of this town will one day fall on our shoulders, the time has come for Bradford West Gwillimbury’s first Youth Council.

Local teens need to unite to improve this town. There are myriad issues for which our middle-aged councillors need advice. So let’s come together and advise.

This is an official challenge: calling all youth—let’s help our councillors build the town we want to live in; the town we want to be our home. Let’s create a Youth Council.

This is another official challenge: calling all councillors—are you for this robust, dedicated, optimistic movement of the future; or not.

Many other towns have great Youth Councils that form opinions, run events, rebuild facilities… why don’t we?            

Whaddaya think?

(Originally published by The Bradford West Gwillimbury Times, Jonathan is a regular columnist with that paper.)