Children and Youth Opportunities
MB4Youth Advisory Council
About Us | Member Profiles | Selection Process | Terms of Reference | Annual Reports | Contact Us
2012-13 MB4Youth Advisory Council Application
About Us
The MB4Youth Advisory Council was created to provide feedback to the Minister of Children and Youth Opportunities on issues relating to youth.
We are comprised of up to 15 members between the ages of 15 and 24 who enjoy working with our peers and want to help the provincial government make informed decisions on issues affecting youth.
We were chosen to be on the Council because of our leadership skills, volunteer activities, and contributions to our school and community. We come from various communities and cultural backgrounds, so we feel we bring unique perspectives to the Council.
Throughout the year, the Council will meet 4 to 6 times face-to-face and hold teleconference meetings when needed. Our annual reports will be posted, so please bookmark this Web page to read about our discussions.
As Council members, we will help ensure that youth have a say in decisions that affect youth in Manitoba.
Member Profiles
Laurel Appell
Laurel is a grade 12 student from a small rural community. Once she graduates, Laurel plans on continuing her education at the University of Winnipeg where she will get her doctorate in history. She is an active member of her school’s Youth in Philanthropy group and Peer Assistant Program and is very interested in promoting youth involvement in the political process. Laurel is a certified swim instructor, works at a local car garage and volunteers at the community library. In her spare time she loves to swim, listen to music and play the drums.
Emily Bagot-Sideen
Emily is a grade 11 IB student at Miles Macdonell Collegiate and she is enthralled in the human condition and the way society works. In April 2011, she returned from Parliament Hill after catching a glimpse of the way people are governed, and what she had learned was not that she wanted to pursue a life of politics, but instead a life of activism and relief within the community. Emily volunteers with the Krisis Klinic presenting short interactive skits on topics such as substance abuse and diversity to junior high students. Emily would like to pursue a post-secondary degree in humanities and film. This is her first year on the council.
Sara Castellano
Sara is a recent high school graduate and has just started her first year of university. She is studying at the University of Manitoba and hopes to become a lawyer. Sara has contributed to countless volunteer efforts in the school and community such as: talent shows, the community Christmas dinner, tutoring, Cancer Care Fashion show, open house events and blood donor clinics. She has chaired the Manitoba S.W.A.T. team, an anti tobacco team which was expanded on a provincial level in 2009. Sara dances at a competitive level in all styles. Sara also teaches and volunteers her time-sharing her love and passion for dance with others. She brings her enthusiasm, experience and eagerness to the Council and hopes to make a positive difference.
Mathieu Catellier
Mathieu is a grade 12 student from St-Pierre-Jolys. He is currently sitting on his school and school division council, contributing to them his valuable leadership skills and knowledge. He has kindled an interest towards politics and served this past year as a page at the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. He is an avid reader and he understands the importance of continuously learning and bettering himself. Being a musician and captain of an improv team, he has acquired a very creative side to his thinking. Mathieu trains for half-marathons and triathlons year round as well as playing hockey and golf among many other sports. He is excited to bring his leadership skills and rural francophone background to the MB4Youth council.
Maria Godoy
Since moving to Canada from Argentina 7 years ago, Maria has been connected to the community through Folklarama as the Ambassador for the Argentinean and Brazilian pavilion. These experiences have inspired Maria to dedicate more of her free time to volunteering in the community by taking on leadership positions in High School such as chairing the Youth and Philanthropy club, organizing Multicultural Day, and volunteering at the International Centre, Winnipeg Art Gallery and in various homeless shelters. Maria is currently involved in United Way's Youth Relations Council. Maria’s volunteer and leadership experience as well as her passion for making a difference will be a great asset to the Council.
Rebecca Kunzman
Rebecca is a grade 12 student at Fort Richmond Collegiate. She enjoys being involved and taking on leadership roles within her school and community and this past June was elected FRC’s Student Council President. Her interest in politics has also allowed here to serve as a page at the Manitoba Legislative Assembly this coming year. She is interested in human rights and holds the position of co-chair of her school’s Amnesty International Group; through such, she is able to help educate the group’s members on current affairs and Amnesty issues and campaigns. She has a love of science and has participated in international science fairs in Japan and Thailand. She is also a member of FRC’s Envirothon team, and throughout the school year she enjoys volunteering her time at Kelburn Farm as a Wetlands Centre of Excellence mentor, leading younger students on biodiversity walks and explaining the importance of an ecologically sustainable future. She is honoured to have been chosen as a member and is very much looking forward to her first year with the Council.
Candace Maxymowich
Candace was raised on a farm in south-eastern Manitoba and has developed strong relationships with many influential leaders through her dedication to many organizations in her home community, throughout the province, and across Canada. This includes volunteer involvement in South Eastman Regional Health Authority, Local Investment Toward Employment, Amnesty International, Equal Voice, Osteoporosis Canada, Fair Vote, Canadian Liver Foundation, Society for Manitobans with Disabilities, and many others. Candace has always been passionate about working for the benefit of others and is currently studying Psychiatric Nursing as well as Business Administration. Candace is a reporter for The Carillon newspaper which is distributed across south-eastern Manitoba. Candace’s good character, honesty, and generosity make her the type of person everyone can count on. In February 2011, Candace participated in Forum for Young Canadians in Ottawa where she met political leaders from across the country. Candace has an almost inexhaustible stock of determination. Her energy and close ties to the community will allow her to provide strong representation as a member of the MB4Youth council.
Somee Park
Somee and her family moved to Canada in 2002 and she has been living in Winnipeg ever since. She began her first year of studies at the University of Manitoba in September. Somee has been a member of her school’s band program including concert band, symphonic band and wind ensemble for many years. Somee has also been involved with Youth in Philanthropy, What Did You Do In School Today Student Committee, Key Club and Peer Ambassadors Program. Outside of school, Somee has been involved with the Inner-City Science Club and has volunteered at the Winnipeg Humane Society. Somee’s passion is helping others and she would like to pursue a career in the medical field. This is her first year on the Council.
Pieter Prinsloo
Pieter was born in South Africa and has been a resident of Manitoba for the past 12 years. He is currently a graduate student at the University of Manitoba in the German and Slavic Studies Department. When he is not busy with his studies, he enjoys jogging, biking, and keeping up to date with the latest news and advances in the medical field. Pieter hopes that his cultural background will provide an inspiring viewpoint for the council which will lead to new ideas and discussions.
Jennifer Richelle
Jennifer is a biological sciences student at the University of Manitoba and this is her first year as a member of the MB4Youth Advisory Council. She currently volunteers with the Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development Study, University of Manitoba’s Disability Services and St. Boniface General Hospital’s Emergency Department. She also enjoys staying active and playing a variety of sports including hockey and soccer. Jennifer is looking forward to the opportunity to represent the youth of Manitoba and help make a positive impact on their future.
Samantha Samson
Samantha is a grade 12 student at her rural high school. She is a member of the Elder Abuse Awareness Group and writes her school's monthly newsletter. Hoping to pursue a communications degree, Samantha can't wait to participate in this year's council. She realizes that a healthy lifestyle is important and wants to do her part for her province.
Charity Songok Maritim
Charity is a second year student at the University of Manitoba and is majoring in microbiology with hopes of pursuing a career in medicine. Charity is originally from Kenya and since moving to Winnipeg she has been actively involved in the community. She was a member of her school leadership council, peer support team and the head of the Human Rights team. Charity enjoys volunteering at St. Amant and with Focus Africa. She is currently the secretary of the Kenyan Students Association at the University of Manitoba. Charity is honored to serve a second term on the Council and looks forward to working with the team to represent Manitoba youth.
Natasha Woloschuk
Natasha is a second-year Communications major at the University of Winnipeg and a proud graduate of Vincent Massey Collegiate (Winnipeg). Raised in the village of St. Adolphe, in the RM of Ritchot, Natasha experienced Manitoba’s volunteer spirit first-hand when she was evacuated to Winnipeg during the flood of 1997 and serves her community by volunteering at safe play drop-in programs for children and youth. Natasha plays ultimate and badminton, and is a nationally certified lifeguard. When not studying or reading, she can be found either behind the lens of her camera or on her computer editing short videos. Natasha is an avid writer and photographer. She was Editor of her high school newspaper, a regular contributor to the Winnipeg Free Press Extra and currently authors a weekly blog on vegetarianism and Manitoba’s local food. Natasha is proud to have been selected to serve a second term on the Council.
Selection Process
- The call for members is an open process. Each year applications for the Council will be sent out to schools, post-secondary institutions, and youth serving agencies. Applications will also be posted on the Opportunitiesmb.ca web site.
- A departmental selection committee reads all applications and selects up to 15 council members age 15 to 24, which are approved by the Minister of Children and Youth Opportunities.
- The selection criteria is as follows:
- Youth display leadership and interpersonal skills, volunteerism, and community and/or school engagement;
- Youth are able to carry out the duties and responsibilities as outlined in the Terms of Reference;
- Youth span the age range of 15 to 24 and are involved in different stages of education and employment;
- Youth are from a variety of Manitoba communities and cultural backgrounds;
- Youth have an adult reference from a community organization or institution.
- Members are appointed for a one year term and can apply for a second or third consecutive term of one year. A maximum of 8 retruning members will be identified.
Terms of Reference
Annual Reports
- 2010-11 Advisory Council Annual Report
- 2009-10 Advisory Council Annual Report
- 2008-09 Advisory Council Annual Report
Interested in joining the council? Keep an eye open for the next call for nominations in the spring of 2012.
Contact Us
Ken Lamoureux
MB4Youth
Manitoba Children and Youth Opportunities
Room 310, 800 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, MB R3G 0N4
Telephone: (204) 945-2568 or toll-free 1-800-282-8069 ext. 2568
Fax: (204) 945-5726
E-mail: Ken.Lamoureux2@gov.mb.ca
