Cochrane's Youth Council are coming to Council Chambers this evening (February 13) at 6 pm to discuss youth issues with Cochrane Mayor Jeff Genung and members of town council.

The Cochrane Youth Council is a program ran by the Boys and Girls Club of Cochrane and Area that gathers community-minded teens together to talk about issues and ideas that are relevant for youth between grades 8 through 12.

Kassidy Gerhardi, Chair of Cochrane Youth Council shares she is excited to discuss some issues that are not only important to youth but the community at large. "Our council has been given an amazing opportunity to share our message and has been given the platform to discuss important issues and topics with a broader audience. The topic of mental health and mental wellness is one that has a significant impact on not only each of our councillors, but I believe that every person in Cochrane can recognize the importance of addressing this issue. At this meeting we will discuss a variety of different topics that relate back to the well being of youth in Cochrane, and how we can promote a greater amount of community engagement to provide a positive environment for youth to feel safe, and hopefully strive in. I believe that the issues we will discuss at this upcoming meeting are ones that everyone can relate to, and it is a great time to start the conversation."

Hoping to fill Cochrane Chambers tonight, Gerhardi says she is excited to see a growing number of teens wishing to get involved. "It's amazing to see my peers become so engaged in our council... they have surpassed my expectations as a group with the initiatives they have taken and the passion they have shown towards the causes we have chosen, such as mental health. Even though we only meet once a month, the progress we have made in a short amount of time has been really encouraging and it makes me so excited to see what the future holds in store for the council."

The 15 members making up youth council has spent time discussing issues, challenges as well as possible solutions for topics like transportation, student discounting, recreational opportunities, connectivity, volunteering and fundraising initiatives. 

Everyone is invited to listen to the very important and forward-thinking ideas presented by Youth Council. If you have a youth who may wish to be involved with the group, more information is provided HERE