| De: |
"Rebecca Lee" [ Profil ] |
| Sujet: |
FW: conference opportunity
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| Envoyé: |
Oct 16th, 2006 - 17:07:20 |
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-----Original Message-----
From: angieb (at) tgmag.ca [mailto:angieb (at) tgmag.ca]
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2006 4:31 PM
To: programplanning (at) yci.org
Subject: conference opportunity
We're looking for one youth from every riding in the province to become a
member of The Students' Assembly on Electoral Reform. You could be one of
them. We're looking for energetic young people, between the ages of 14 and
18, who care about the future of the province and would like to work with
others to learn about Ontario's electoral system.
If selected, you'll join us November 15-19th at Lake Muskoka's famous
Deerhust Resort. Free food, accommodation and travel.
If you haven't got a clue what "electoral" means, you're exactly who we are
looking for. Reform means getting those interested who were never interested
before. So don't let the application scare you off having a great time with
102 other youth at a great resort. Find an adult friend, a youth worker or
teacher to help you fill out the form on-line... and be one of the lucky
ones. Applications that qualify will be selected by random draw, so everyone
has a chance!!!!
But YOU HAVE TO BE quick: The deadline for applications is this Friday,
October 19th, 2006. Selection on Saturday. Apply here:
http://www.studentsassembly.ca/en/apply.php
BACKGROUND for ORGANIZATIONS
Are you looking for new and interesting programs for the young people who
use your services to participate in? We are offering a free program that
will encourage youth to talk about important issues and the future of our
province. It is a unique opportunity that will allow those selected to
travel and meet their peers from across the province while learning about
how we elect our politicians. This is the chance for the youth you work
with to impact the lives of 12 million people!
For the first time in Ontario's history, randomly selected citizens have a
chance to influence the future of our democracy and the way we elect our
politicians. This non-partisan initiative, known as the Citizens'
Assembly
on Electoral Reform, empowers 103 Ontario citizens to study electoral
systems and hear public opinion from across the province in order to decide
if the system we have now is the best system for our future.
If the Citizens' Assembly recommends a change to our electoral system,
Ontarians will vote on this change in a referendum, most likely during the
October 2007 provincial election.
The Students Commission of Canada is proud to announce the creation of The
Students' Assembly on Electoral Reform (
www.studentsassembly.ca), a special project coordinated with Student Vote
and The Planning Desk.
The Students' Assembly on Electoral Reform is a parallel process designed to
complement the work of the Citizens' Assembly. It offers high school aged
students the chance to learn about the inner workings of the province's
electoral system and other systems used throughout the world. Students will
have an opportunity to contribute their voice and perspective; ensuring that
the values of young people are considered when the Citizens' Assembly makes
its final recommendations. We hope that by having the chance to participate
in this historic process, youth who use your services today will be more
inclined to participate as active citizens in the future.
Two important components define the operation of the Students' Assembly:
a) Students' Assembly Conference: 103 young people, selected through
our
online application process, will gather at Deerhurst Resort in Muskoka, from
November 15 - 19, 2006. Besides having the time of their lives, youth will
learn about our current electoral system, alternative systems throughout the
world and the values and outcomes associated with each. At the close of the
conference, participants will recommend an electoral system that they feel
best reflects the values of young Ontarians. (All conference and travel
costs are waived for student participants - a free opportunity!)
b) 'Classroom Assemblies': Schools and community based programs
and
organizations that sign up for the project will receive curriculum materials
to organize their own 'Classroom Assembly on Electoral Reform'. Using the
materials provided, teachers, youth workers or program volunteers will have
the opportunity to engage the youth in a discussion around the democracy we
have now and the type of democracy we want for our future. At the
conclusion of the assembly module, youth will cast votes for the electoral
system that best reflects their preferred values and outcomes.
Vote tallies, survey research and reflections conducted in both phases of
our program will be analyzed and incorporated into a final report to be
presented by youth to the Citizens' Assembly in February 2007.
I appreciate that electoral reform, to most, is not a sexy topic. But it
matters.
Initially, youth may not be excited about 'mixed member plurality' or 'first
past the post', but I am sure that they will have opinions on the number of
women and visible minorities elected to our legislature, or whether the
first loyalty of all Members of Provincial Parliament is to their party or
their constituency. What we must remember is that this process is not about
ensuring change. It is about discovering what means the most to us in our
democracy - and making sure that the values of young people who will inherit
this system are reflected - this includes the young people you serve.
This
is not only an invitation to those youth who are currently engaged in civic
or political activity or those who excel in these programs in school - it is
for all young people who want to use their voice.
Therefore, today we hope that you will accept our invitation to participate
in the Students' Assembly on Electoral Reform, and ask you to:
1) Support youth in their application to participate at
the
Students' Assembly at Muskoka's Deerhurst Resort. All expenses are covered
by our program. All we need is youth who are eager to participate. You
don't need to know much about politics - you just need to care.
2) Register your program/organization and host a
'Classroom
Assembly'. Please visit our web site
www.studentsassembly.ca to register - or call toll free, 1.866.488.8775.
With only a small bit of time you can engage youth in a process that shows
youth that their voice is important. As well - there will be youth who take
part in the Classroom Assembly and vote online who will be selected to help
present the final report to the Citizens Assembly. Your commitment can help
them get there.
We look forward to hearing from you and the youth you serve soon!
Sincerely,
The Students Commission,
Centre of Excellence for Youth Engagement
23 Isabella St., Toronto, ON M4Y 1M7
416 597 8297
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