2023 Youth Representative:
Colten Rockford
Colten Rockford is a Grade 12 student at Elphinstone Secondary School. He is excited to share his peers’ perspective with Council, particularly on subjects such as climate change, water usage and public transportation. Colten is a member of Elphinstone’s Student Council, Leadership Class, and Garden Club, and also spearheaded a project to make and place 215 paper “Every Child Matters” shirts in recognition of National Truth and Recognition Day. In 2021, he was named to Elphinstone’s Honour Roll with Distinction.
Colten Rockford was previously “Alternate Youth Representative” for the 2021/2022 school year.
2023 Alternate Youth Representatives:
Erin Payne
Cael Read (pictured below)
Youth Representatives and Accessibility Committee Representative Propose Free Transit for Youth on the Sunshine Coast
On January 26th, Youth Representatives Colten Rockford and Cael Read, along with Accessibility Advisory Committee representative Anna Lattanzi, delivered a presentation to the SCRD proposing free public transit for secondary and post-secondary students on the Sunshine Coast.
They stated that providing equal access to transportation would promote health and well-being and allow for equal access to employment, resources, and recreation.
“This is an issue that should not lose momentum”, said Gibsons Mayor Silas White. “Back in December 2019, there was a similar presentation to the board by Mari Nielsen and Rowan Moore and sadly it stalled. Here we are again four years later the issues are only more important and the need has grown.”
Click here to view the SCRD Public Transit Delegation Presentation
Students on Council Program Background
The Gibsons’ “Students on Council” program was introduced in February 2019 as a way to provide an opportunity to include and involve students on Council.
As a Youth Representative, the students provide a youth perspective on matters being considered at council and committee meetings, raise awareness of the positive contributions of youth in our community and advocate for and on behalf of youth in the Town of Gibsons.
Our Youth Representatives are co-sponsored by the Gibsons Rotary Club and are provided with an honorarium for attending council and committee meetings, with the funds placed in an education reserve for the student and paid at the end of their term.
On September 15, 2020, the Youth Representative Terms of Reference were amended to reflect lessons learned during the previous two terms and to improve clarity re) the school grades of the representatives. Read the related staff report and revised Youth Representative Terms of Reference here.
Sunshine Coast Youth Council
The Sunshine Coast Youth Council was initiated in January 2021 by Gravity Guignard and Eilis Mackenzie (former Town of Gibsons Youth Councillors).
The Council comprises 13 members, with student representatives from Elphinstone Secondary, Chatelech Secondary and SPIDER (Online). The Youth Council has three primary areas of interest, including: Community Support, Infrastructure and the Environment.
To learn more, please see this presentation, which was given at the Spring 2021 Intergovernmental Meeting.
Contact the Sunshine Coast Youth Council by email at: sunshinecoastyouthcouncil@gmail.com.
Past Youth Representatives
