Child, Youth and Family Services
May 14, 2015

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Sandy Collins, Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services:

Minister Celebrates Youth Volunteer Efforts Throughout the Province

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in this Honourable House to celebrate how collaboration and research is supporting and encouraging youth volunteers throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

On April 22, representatives from the Office of Public Engagement, Radhoc Youth Leadership, and Memorial University�s Department of Political Science, the Community Sector Council, and Memorial�s School of Social Work joined forces through an interactive workshop to discuss ways to foster youth involvement.

Mr. Speaker, volunteers have long been integral to Newfoundland and Labrador, but we need new volunteers and fresh perspectives to help ensure our communities remain strong and welcoming places to live. The more connected that someone feels to a community, the more likely they are to stay, work, and raise a family. For rural communities, this is what contributes to their long-term sustainability and viability.

Through the workshop, which was inspired by a collaborative initiative underway in the Gander � New-Wes-Valley Region called Uniting Community Leaders, 45 young people from diverse backgrounds spoke about ways to strengthen rural communities in this way. They also explored research collected by Radhoc Youth Leadership members Jennifer Crowe, Ryan Murphy and Sean Kennedy � who are joining us in the gallery today.

Mr. Speaker, working together, the Radhoc team reached into the community to gather information and unique experiences from more than 180 youth over the past few months. It is also worth noting that one of the founding members of Radhoc is working with us in the Youth Engagement Division of the Office of Public Engagement, where she is focused on building strong partnerships with youth organizations. As we speak, the office is also preparing for tonight�s URock Volunteer Awards at the Glacier in Mount Pearl, where we will celebrate the incredible volunteer efforts of young people. I invite everyone to join us in person, or through the webcast at urockvolunteerawards.ca .

Mr. Speaker, with their skills, enthusiasm, and ingenuity, youth are helping Newfoundland and Labrador move forward at a critical point in our history. By providing them with forums to connect and explore ways in which they can contribute, we will help to ensure they have the supports needed to remain true leaders in their communities.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

2015 05 14                             1:50 p.m.