News May 3, 2013

Youth Parliament 2013

(YELLOWKNIFE) Friday, May 3, 2013 – Nineteen high school students from across the North will take part in Youth Parliament 2013 beginning on Monday, May 6 at the Legislative Assembly building in Yellowknife. The students will participate in three days of meetings and briefings in preparation for the Youth Parliament Model Session during which they assume the roles of their respective Member of the Legislative Assembly.

Speaker Jackie Jacobson says, “Youth Parliament has been a proud Northern tradition among both high school students and the Legislative Assembly; it is an excellent program that develops student awareness about our unique form of government in the Northwest Territories. At the same time, it builds on the student’s leadership skills and provides an opportunity for personal growth in areas such as public speaking, writing, research, and interpersonal skills.” 
 
Youth Parliament is one of several educational outreach programs offered by the Legislative Assembly through the Office of the Speaker. The program is aimed at educating Northern youth about consensus government, with an emphasis on the Assembly operations, its function and history, and the important role the institution holds in the NWT. 
 
The participants, by constituency, are:
 
Deh Cho – Mr. Brandon Thom                             Frame Lake – Ms. Kirianne Ashley
Great Slave – Ms. Mary Cairns                            Hay River North – Ms. Elycia Nimegeers
Hay River South – Ms. Kateryna Staszuk              Inuvik Boot Lake – Ms. Vanessa Lennie
Inuvik Twin Lakes – Ms. Chantal Grey                  Kam Lake – Ms. Anita Kolback
Mackenzie Delta – Ms. Angela Koe                       Monfwi – Ms. Rhonda Apples
Nahendeh – Mr. William Alger                              Nunakput – Mr. Larsen Nasogaluak
Range Lake – Mr. Syed Mohammed Raza Rizvi      Sahtu – Ms. Keesha Antoine 
Thebacha – Mr. Luke James                                 Tu Nedhe – Ms. Tammy Gon 
Weledeh – Ms. Zara Tehseenah                            Yellowknife Centre – Ms. Huzaifa Malik
Yellowknife South – Mr. Ethan Phypers
 
The Youth Parliament 2013 Model Session is taking place in the Chamber of the Legislative Assembly building on Thursday, May 9, at 1:30 p.m. The public is invited to view the Youth Parliament proceedings from the Public Gallery. Media are encouraged to arrange interviews with the students prior to the sitting day. 

For more information, please contact:

Danielle Mager
Public Affairs and Communications Advisor
Legislative Assembly of the NWT
Phone: 867-669-2230 or 1-800-661-0784
Email: danielle_mager@gov.nt.ca