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Manitoba Education, Citizenship and Youth

MB4Youth Advisory Council

About Us | Member Profiles | Selection Process | Terms of Reference | Reports | Contact Us

About Us

The MB4Youth Advisory Council was created to provide feedback to the Minister of Education, Citizenship and Youth on issues relating to youth such as jobs, education, leadership, and citizen engagement.

We are comprised of 15 members between the ages of 15 and 24 who enjoy working with our peers and want to help the provincial government make informed decisions on issues affecting youth.

We were chosen to be on the Council because of our leadership skills, volunteer activities, and contributions to our school and community. We come from various communities and cultural backgrounds, so we feel we bring unique perspectives to the Council.

Throughout the year, the Council will meet 2 to 4 times face-to-face and hold teleconference meetings. Our meeting minutes will be posted, so please bookmark this Web page to read about our discussions.

As Council members, we will help ensure that youth have a say in decisions that affect the youth in Manitoba.

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Member Profiles

Michael Alty
Michael spent his formative years in the village of Howden, Manitoba.  His interest in politics, travel, and community service began early on, triggering a long sequence of adventures.  His travels, schooling, and volunteer work have taken him abroad to Haiti, Southern Africa, China, and beyond.  Michael volunteers for the Canadian International Development Agency as part of the Youth Speakers Program and works on housing issues in Winnipeg.  When not at work or traveling the world, you can find Michael snowboarding, lawn bowling, volunteering, or hanging out with friends.

Amber Darling
Amber is a University of Manitoba student who is originally from a small rural town.  Her future plans include getting a degree in environmental design in hopes of becoming an architect.  This is Amber’s third year on the MB4Youth Advisory Council.  Her other leadership experience include: peer helpers, student council, student leaders in high school , tutoring, camp counselor at a Co-op Youth Leadership Camp, and volunteering every year at the Manitoba Agricultural Museum’s Thresherman’s Reunion.  Outside of university, Amber enjoys movies, scrapbooking and being with friends and family.

Jennifer Guth
Jennifer is a grade 12 student at MacGregor Collegiate.  This is her first year as part of the MB4Youth Advisory Council and she is very honoured for the opportunity to work with other youth from around Manitoba.  Jennifer is the treasurer of her school’s student council, chair of her Youth in Philanthropy group, and a peer helper.  She attends Youth Parliament of Manitoba and went to Ottawa last year with Forum for Young Canadians.  Jennifer enjoys travelling and is an avid reader.  Jennifer is interested in studying history and pursuing an education degree.

Madison Hass
Madison is a grade 12 student from Brandon, Manitoba.  Madison is an active participant in her high school’s Teens Against Drinking, Drugging and Driving Advisory Council, Youth in Philanthropy group, Book Club, Massey One Spirit group, Leadership Class, Peer Tutoring program, Track and Field team, and bowling team.  When not in school, Madison enjoys volunteering at her local hospital and working at a local drug store.  Her interests include tutoring, reading, writing, running, travelling, and snowboarding.  Her future plans include attending university to attain a bachelor of arts in human rights, before going on to law school in hopes of becoming an international affairs lawyer.  Madison is very excited to be on the MB4Youth Advisory Council and to represent youth from rural Manitoba.

Bradley Johnson
Bradley is currently completing his final year of high school in the Interlake.  His future plans include pursuing a career in Political Studies or Economics.  He is an active participant in the student body; he currently co-chairs both the Student Council and Yearbook, and for the second consecutive year is the chair of his School Division’s Student Council.  Other school groups that he is involved with include the Environmental Club, Senior Jazz Band and Senior Concert Band.  Bradley was recently re-appointed for a second term as the Youth Representative on the Municipal Council in his municipality.  He is one of the founding members of the Youth Community Partnership Group in his community where through volunteer efforts he is able to provide a voice to share youth opinion and concerns on issues that affect youth not only on a local level but globally.  Bradley enjoys participating in a variety of sports, most particularly bowling, skiing and curling.  In his spare time, he enjoys being with friends and family, learning about photography, and listening to music.  Bradley is honoured to have the opportunity to represent young people in Manitoba on the MB4Youth Advisory Council.

Vanessa Kozak
Vanessa is in her second year in the Aboriginal Governance Program at the University of Winnipeg.  Vanessa also works as a STEP Student with Wabanong Nakaygum Okimawin, in the Manitoba Conservation Aboriginal Relations Department.  This is Vanessa’s third year on the council and she looks forward to meeting new people and learning new things.

Jordyn Lerner
Jordyn is a second year Biochemistry major at the University of Winnipeg.  During his high school years, Jordyn was committed to helping others enjoy the atmosphere that a close-knit high school presented.  Presently, Jordyn is secretary of the Jewish Students Association/Hillel and serves on the Canadian Blood Services Youth Council.  He volunteers at the Misericordia Health Centre and helps out at community events like Boo at the Zoo.  Jordyn joined the MB4Youth Advisory Council because he wants to make a difference in the community.  By cultivating a greater admiration for our province and the amazing opportunities it presents for youth, Jordyn hopes to inspire his peers to appreciate Manitoba.

Jacqueline Richelle
Jacqueline Richelle is a first year student at the University of Manitoba and plans to enter the Faculty of Science next year.  She has held several leadership positions as chairperson of committees that address issues related to youth philanthropy.  In addition, Jacqueline has organized various events such as the 30 hour Famine and Addictions Awareness Week, as well as planned fundraisers for UNESCO health kits and grants that were allocated to non-profit organizations.  Her volunteer experience includes devoting time as a meal service companion at the City of Winnipeg’s Reading Aloud Program.  She currently volunteers at the Misericordia Health Centre and enjoys reading, skating, and running in her spare time.  One of Jacqueline’s most valuable experiences was when she travelled to Shanghai, China to work as an International model where she was exposed to the diverse Chinese culture and way of life.

Chris Struc
Chris Struc is a first year university student who intends to obtain degrees in Political Science as well as Law.  In the past he has had the privilege to attend the Forum for Young Canadians as well as running his school division’s Youth Parliament program.  In the past year he has been active in Youth Parliament, Youth in Philanthropy and various other programs.  Chris looks forward to being able to represent youth in his area and discuss issues pertaining specifically to youth in Manitoba.  In his spare time he enjoys spending time with friends and family, curling, camping and travelling.

Vanja Tubin
Vanja is originally from the Balkans and has made Canada his home for the greater part of his life.  He is a second year politics and history student with an interest in pursuing a career in diplomacy.  This is Vanja’s first year with the MB4Youth Advisory Council.  Vanja has been active in his community through several initiatives including tutoring, volunteering at Festival du Voyageur and with Habitat for Humanity.  He also co-hosts a weekly campus based political radio show.  In his spare time he enjoys reading and playing sports.

Erin Wall
Erin is in her second year of university studies and hopes to study Medical Radiology at Red River College in the near future.  This is Erin’s second year on the council and is honoured to once again have the position and ability to represent young people in Manitoba.  Her volunteer experience is widespread and includes coaching basketball, various Kiwanis and Key Club activities, bowling with seniors, and working at the local free-trade cafe.  Erin also enjoys keeping fit with basketball, yoga and aquafit.  She is almost always seen with a camera attached to her, and enjoys anything to do with photography.

Liz Cochrane
Liz Cochrane is currently a grade 12 student in rural Manitoba.  This is her first year on the MB4Youth Advisory Council.  Liz in involved in her school’s varsity soccer and volleyball teams and has been on her schools student council since grade 10.  She is currently serving the position of Deputy Prime Minister in her grade 12 year.  She is also involved with her schools volunteer club (LIVE).  In her spare time she enjoys playing sports, being with friends and family, listening to music, and reading.  She hopes this year will be a good one and is thankful and excited to be part of the MB4Youth Advisory Council.

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Selection Process

  • The call for members is an open process. Each year applications for the Council will be sent out to schools, post-secondary institutions, and youth serving agencies. Applications will also be posted on the Opportunitiesmb.ca Web site and highlighted in the OpportunitiesMB newsletter.

  • A departmental selection committee reads all applications and selects up to 15 council members age 15 to 24, which are approved by the Minister of Education, Citizenship and Youth.

  • The selection criteria is as follows:
    • Youth display leadership and interpersonal skills, volunteerism, and community and/or school engagement;
    • Youth are able to carry out the duties and responsibilities as outlined in the Terms of Reference;
    • Youth span the age range of 15 to 24 and are involved in different stages of education and employment;
    • Youth are from a variety of Manitoba communities and cultural backgrounds;
    • Youth have an adult reference from a community organization or institution.

  • Members are appointed for a one year term and can apply for a second consecutive term of one year. Members will not be selected for more than 2 years.

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Terms of Reference

Terms of Reference document PDF File

Reports

Meeting minutes:
Annual Report:

Interested in joining the council? Keep an eye open for the next call for nominations in the spring of 2010.

Contact Us

Lindsay Kaluznick
MB4Youth Division
Manitoba Education, Citizenship and Youth
Room 310, 800 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, MB R3G 0N4
Telephone: (204) 945-0437 or toll-free 1-800-282-8069 ext. 0437
Fax: (204) 945-5726
E-mail: Lindsay.Kaluznick@gov.mb.ca

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