Students of Jasper Junior/Senior High School put candidates for mayor, council and school trustee on the spot, Oct. 17, in their very own all candidates forum.
The forum was organized at the request of the students, who recalled a similar one being held ahead of the 2010 election. The event was a cross between the 鈥渟peed dating鈥� style forum held Oct. 8 and the standard all candidates forum held Oct. 9.
First the students addressed the two candidates for school trustee, asking how they propose to increase enrolment in grades 10鈥�12.
Incumbent Betsy DeClercq said one way is to increase housing within the town, so that more families with children can afford to live and work here. Another, she said, is to encourage more international students.
Gerry Lettner said he doesn't think it's going to be an easy fix, but also named housing and international students as possible solutions.
The next question for the candidates for trustee was how they propose to incorporate youth in community and political decisions.
DeClercq, who has been working to develop a position for a student school board trustee, said she feels that would be great opportunity to hear more from youth and to ensure they are involved in decisions that will affect them. She also pointed to the Sustainability Club for Youth as a great example of how youth can get involved and make a meaningful difference.
Lettner also commended the club and said it has shown how tenacious youth can be. He also said how encouraging it is that students want to be engaged: 鈥淲here there is interest there are ways to make it happen.鈥�
Next on the hot seat were the candidates for mayor. Incumbent Richard Ireland was absent, leaving Karen Fontaine and Cloud Byrd to answer the student's questions, addressing everything from increasing municipally funded scholarships to priorities for the green building policy that is currently being developed.
With regards to scholarships, Fontaine answered, 鈥淚t depends on our budget, but we'll certainly earmark it for you.鈥�
Byrd agreed that increasing scholarships is something that he'd like to see, especially scholarships that are targeted at specific vocations that could benefit the town.
On the topic of the green building policy, Byrd said 鈥渨e're really missing the boat here.鈥�
Elaborating, he said there are relatively inexpensive, state of the art green technologies coming out of China that the municipality should be looking into.
Fontaine deferred to Byrd, saying, 鈥淚 don't know too many of the issues on environment, he's the expert on that.鈥�
To close the question period for mayoral candidates, Grade 12 student James Schmidt asked, 鈥淲hat will you do to engage youth in our community?鈥�
Fontaine suggested that youth get involved in any committee they can, 鈥渁nd if you can't get into a committee, start one!鈥� She also said she'd like to see a junior town council that would present the mayor and council with recommendations on pertinent issues.
鈥淚'd like to see a drop-in centre for seniors and youth where they could engage services together. That would engage you [youth] and them in the town a lot more than is happening now.鈥�
Byrd suggested the Old Fire Hall as a possible location.
The forum wrapped up with the students circling the gym, visiting the candidates for council and asking each of them questions.
Nicole Veerman
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