Canadian Rural Partnership
Rural Dialogue



YOUTH VOICES WORKSHOP
Rural Dialogue Summary Report

Watrous, Saskatchewan
March 16, 2005

This report is a summary of discussions that took place at the Youth Voices Workshop, held in Watrous, Saskatchewan on March 16, 2005. No limits were placed on the participants during discussions that took place in brainstorming sessions. In order to present a true report of the free-ranging discussions, recommendations made by participants that fall outside federal jurisdiction are also included. Views expressed do not necessarily represent those of the Government of Canada.

This event was part of the Rural Dialogue, an ongoing, two-way discussion between the Government of Canada and Canadians from rural, remote and northern regions. Launched in 1998, the Rural Dialogue is a key citizen-engagement component of the Canadian Rural Partnership (CRP). The CRP is designed to support a horizontal approach to rural development within the Government of Canada that responds to rural, remote and northern priorities. The Dialogue process helps the Government of Canada to understand local and regional priorities, and provides rural, remote and northern citizens with an opportunity to influence government policies, programs and services that affect them.

Participants (12 in attendance, 6 of which were young people between 18 and 29 years old) included, but were not limited to: representatives of regional rural and youth organizations; academics; community, economic, and social development officers; and members of the federal and provincial governments.

The Watrous workshop was the second in a series of three Youth Voices Workshops being organized to obtain a cross section of views from youth in the north, central and southern regions of the province. The first workshop took place in Swift Current on March 1, 2005 and the final one will be held in La Ronge later this year.

Rural Team Saskatchewan conducted the Workshop after having reviewed the results of various consultations that had taken place with youth groups across the province over the past few years. The expectation from this workshop was the development of a concrete action plan that was designed by youth for youth for the betterment of their community.

Rural Team Saskatchewan also organized two informational meetings in Swift Current prior to the Youth Voices Workshop in order to design the Workshop's structure and establish the agenda. Community leaders, representatives from the Health Board and the local Regional College as well as youth from the Swift Current area attended both these meetings.

A number of the important issues that were raised during this event are linked to the following Government of Canada priorities identified in the February 2004 Speech From the Throne:

• provide long-term funding for infrastructure to support quality of life and sustainable growth of communities; and
• support regional and rural socio-economic development.

The results presented will help inform the Government of Canada on future actions, and will contribute to the proposed National Rural Framework (NRF) that will guide the actions of the federal, provincial and territorial governments. The over-arching goal of this federal-provincial-territorial collaborative effort is to ensure the long-term viability and sustainability of rural communities by creating an environment which will ensure that communities and citizens have access to social and economic opportunities.

The NRF is based on five policy areas that affect community sustainability. The issues and priorities discussed at this event are presented under the relevant policy area (Section 4 of this report).

Sustainable Livelihoods

A range of activities, economic and social, that enable citizens to support themselves and their communities in the long-term and through changing circumstances.

Shared Environmental Stewardship

Recognition by governments and communities that all must share in the management, as well as share the benefits of our natural resources and healthy environment.

Smart Approaches to Infrastructure

Innovative, appropriate and effective means of planning, building, operating and maintaining physical, social and knowledge-based infrastructure that takes into consideration the rural context.

Engaged Population and Institutions

The active participation and collaboration of all citizens and their institutions in decisions that affect their community.

Demographic Adaptation

The ability of a community to accommodate, on an ongoing basis, the impacts or effects of changes in population, economics and services.

The issues and priorities discussed at this event focussed on the following policy areas: Sustainable Livelihoods; Smart Approaches to Infrastructure; Engaged Population and Institutions; and Demographic Adaptation. Proposed actions and solutions that could address the issues discussed are also included in this section.

4.1.1 Employment

Participants advised that job opportunities should be available in their community as this is one of their priority issues. They also indicated that existing hiring practices hindered young families from settling in rural communities. For example, they mentioned that it was difficult for qualified young teachers to obtain teaching positions due to the fact that superannuated teachers were frequently called back because of their experience, track record and seniority.

4.1.2 Entrepreneurship

They felt that there were limited possibilities to start a business in the Watrous area, particularly for young people. They indicated that they were unaware of the funding, mentorship programs and training available to acquire the needed skills and to start a business. They also advised that generally, the youth in the community and the surrounding area were not willing to stay and start a business.

4.1.3 Economic Development

Participants also mentioned that retaining businesses in rural Saskatchewan is another of their priority areas. They noted, however, that the community at large seemed to be happy with the status quo in terms of its own economic development. Additionally, they felt that there would be very little economic development unless housing and communication technology infrastructure were available, young professionals were attracted, and hiring practices were flexible in their community.

4.2.1 Social Infrastructure

Participants expressed that more affordable housing was needed in rural Saskatchewan, particularly for youth living in small towns.

They also indicated that more activities for youth should be organized in the community. They claimed that the limited visibility of youth on local boards was a contributing factor to the lack of youth activities, particularly for young women.

Participants identified access to education (high school and post-secondary) as another priority issue. They also expressed that ways for local schools to offer a wider range of courses should be explored.

4.2.2 New or Knowledge-based Infrastructure

They indicated that information and communication technology is a priority issue and expressed that these should be improved in small town Saskatchewan.

4.3.1 Collaborative Relationships

Participants clearly recognized the value of people working together for the betterment of the community and the population in general. They also expressed their willingness to work with the council and various community boards if given the opportunity.

They were also concerned that very little collaboration seemed to be taking place in their community and the surrounding area. They advised that if collaboration was taking place, they were not aware and suspected that the majority of residents were not aware either.

4.3.2 Decision-Making and Accountability

Participants mentioned that youth feel excluded from the democratic and decision-making processes which affect them and their families. They advised that they should communicate their plans and feelings regarding what they would like to see happen in their community to the local council in order to be part of the solution.

They also indicated that a youth-driven community capacity building workshop should be developed and offered to youth who want to be involved in community decision-making.

4.3.3 Leadership Development

Participants had a very clear path they would like the community of Watrous to follow in terms of leadership development, which could also be implemented in other towns or villages in rural Saskatchewan. This path would include the following actions:

• Develop and pilot tools and implement processes to strengthen the civic leadership capacities of youth.
• Ensure that tools and processes focus on building sustainable youth leadership on boards and committees at all levels of civic responsibility.

They expressed that the local Regional Economic Development Authority (REDA) should consider the above as a community development pilot project that may be marketed to other partners across the province and beyond.

Participants felt that it was through young people that small town Saskatchewan could survive. They want the opportunity to take on a leadership role and would welcome the experience. They would also appreciate receiving some type of mentorship from elders and professionals within the community.

They indicated that many valuable opportunities existed in the community of Watrous to build bridges between the older and younger generations, and to create a learning environment where youth can learn from their peers and the citizens of the community.

Participants advised that mentorship programs, which are relevant to the community and which would ensure a better representation of youth on local boards and committees, should be developed. Additionally, they would like to attend a community capacity building workshop to learn the necessary leadership skills since time is ripe for youth to take action.

4.3.4 Citizen Engagement

Participants clearly knew the path they would like to take - they very much want to be involved in their community. However, they expressed that they currently faced a number of barriers. They recognized that they must become active on local boards, and indicated that they were not asking for a handout. However, they noted that youth who had made efforts to participate on local boards had very limited success and strongly felt that existing board members were not taking them seriously.

They expressed that more opportunities should be provided to youth to actively participate in the community. For instance, by having youth delegates on all municipal boards and on the local council, and by organizing community capacity building workshops for youth. Additionally, they advised that more tolerance of youth, including support for their ideas, was required.

Participants indicated that they very much wanted to stay in the community; however, they also wanted all the modern conveniences and tools that youth have in larger centres. While they acknowledged that they could not have everything, they would like to set the level of the bar themselves - in terms of initiatives and activities, including the expectations, within the community and surrounding area - and see if they could reach their fullest potential.

4.4.1 Youth Migration

Participants stated that if more activities were organized and opportunities were available in the community, they would stay. A few participants commented that their friends were leaving the community which, in turn, is making them think about whether they should stay or go.

4.4.2 Immigration

They identified recruiting and retaining young professionals in the community as another priority issue for them. Participants suggested that incentives for training in trades should be provided in exchange for a commitment to set up a business in a rural community.

The Youth Voices Workshop was a great opportunity for youth from Watrous and surrounding area to express their views and to let people know how they felt about small town Saskatchewan. It was also an opportunity for the participants to build links between the local Health Board, the Regional College, and economic development organizations.

The participants were satisfied with the overall event and agreed that it met their expectations. They did, however, offer suggestions as areas of improvement. They advised that the event should have lasted two days and should have included the participation of more youth delegates and community leaders. Other comments worth noting included: the event was a great opportunity for a small community; they hope their opinions will make a difference; results should be shared with the community leaders; and they hope the youth will continue seeking solutions to the issues raised.

The following points summarize the key areas of concern and include specific actions to address the issues raised during the event.

• Remove the barriers that exist for youth to become involved on boards and committees and to take part in civic life. For instance, since older people stay on boards for a long time, it makes it very difficult for young people to join.
• Develop a mentorship program that would ensure a better representation of young people on boards and committees.
• Plan, pilot and evaluate a capacity building workshop and/or seminar with and for youth from Watrous who want to be involved in community leadership and decision-making.
• Plan, develop, pilot and evaluate youth leadership and capacity building tools and processes, as well as mentorship programs in the Watrous area.
• Determine if and how the above programs, tools and processes could be further developed and marketed to groups and communities in Saskatchewan and beyond on a fee for service basis.

The youth participants from Watrous indicated that they planned on moving ahead and knew how they wanted to proceed. They expressed interest in having a discussion with the Mayor and members of the town council about youth involvement in community leadership and in decision-making processes. In support of the Watrous youth, the Rural Secretariat's Regional Advisor for Saskatchewan agreed to plan follow-up meetings to assist them in moving forward the actions identified. In addition, Rural Team Saskatchewan committed to provide support as necessary.

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