Canadian Rural Partnership
Rural Dialogue
YOUTH VOICES WORKSHOP
Rural Dialogue Summary Report
Swift Current, Saskatchewan
March 1, 2005
Publication # 10046E
© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2005
Cat. No. # A114-19/2005E-HTML
ISBN # 0-662-40711-3
For further information on the Rural Dialogue,
please call 1-888-781-2222 (toll-free number).
This report is a summary of the discussions that took place at the Youth Voices Workshop, held
in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, on March 1, 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 (20 in attendance, 12 of which were young people between 18 and 29 years old)
included but were not limited to: youth, academics, a representative of the Metis Friendship
Centre, and members of the federal and provincial governments, including two representatives
of Rural Team Saskatchewan.
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).
3. THE NATIONAL RURAL FRAMEWORK'S (NRF) FIVE POLICY AREAS
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.
4. ISSUES RELATING TO THE NRF'S POLICY AREAS
The issues and priorities discussed at this event focussed on the following policy areas:
Sustainable Livelihoods; Smart Approaches to Infrastructure; and Engaged Population and
Institutions. Proposed actions and solutions that could address the issues discussed are also
included in this section.
4.1 Sustainable Livelihoods
4.1.1 Entrepreneurship
Participants felt that Swift Current's present focus appears to be on the attraction of large retail
operations and the development of a casino. As a result, youth have the impression that
opportunities in entrepreneurship, mentorship and skills training are limited. The youth in Swift
Current indicated that they plan to meet with local Town Council and local education
representatives to discuss their concerns and explore solutions.
4.1.2 Economic Development
Participants expressed that more focus should be placed on investing in the community,
supporting small businesses and encouraging young entrepreneurs rather than focusing on
major retail operations.
They indicated that they plan to meet with the local Town Council, the Regional Economic
Development Authority and Action Swift Current to discuss the issues and try and develop a
plan of action that would meet the needs of youth within the community.
4.2 Smart Approaches to Infrastructure
4.2.1 Social Infrastructure
Participants advised that education and skills training opportunities should be available in their
communities. This would provide youth with the option to stay in their home area, and assist
them in making a smooth transition into the workforce with a minimum of disruption.
Youth in the Swift Current area plan to meet with the local Regional College, Action Swift
Current and the local Regional Economic Development Authority to explore the possibility of
accessing additional training opportunities at the community and regional levels.
When discussing health issues, many participants felt that improvements were needed in the
area of health and preventative services, particularly related to HIV/AIDS education and testing,
as well as addiction prevention. The participants indicated that many of the issues or problems
require long-term solutions since these cannot be resolved quickly. As such, they would like to
work with the Health Authority to find solutions that would be in the best interest of the residents
in their community.
4.3 Engaged Population and Institutions
4.3.1 Collaborative Relationships
Participants felt that additional partnerships were needed to launch new collaborative or common
policies and programs that are acceptable to the community as a whole.
Youth from Swift Current would like an opportunity to demonstrate that they are responsible and
care about their community, and more importantly, that they have something positive to
contribute. Their immediate concerns are in the following areas: youth culture, the economic
situation of youth, education, health, and justice.
Participants indicated that building blocks should be established and barriers removed to
address these issues. Plans are already underway for youth to meet with local and Regional
officials to further discuss the issues.
4.3.2 Decision-Making and Accountability
Participants strongly felt that greater transparency from all sides would lead to better
understanding by all parties of the various issues facing the community. For example, youth
want to know why and how decisions are made. They also felt that local leaders
did not fully
understand or appreciate their point of view. Plans have already been put in place by the
participants to meet with the local Town Council to explain and clarify what youth feel they could
contribute to the community.
4.3.3 Leadership Development
Participants clearly indicated that leadership development was a key factor to the future
sustainability of any community or region.
Youth in Swift Current feel very isolated from their community which is well-established and has
well-established committees. Generally, youth are not part of these committees and it is not for
their lack of trying. They believe that the future of any community lies with its youth.
They would like an opportunity to express their feelings but also to contribute to the community.
Their engagement would provide them opportunities to receive training and be mentored. The
community could also develop leadership programs that are custom made to fit the
opportunities provided to youth.
To that end the participants have already established plans to meet with local officials to discuss
their concerns and to put forward options and solutions to enhance leadership development.
4.3.4 Citizen Engagement
Participants clearly viewed ongoing citizen engagement as an essential element to maintaining
and improving the social well being of the citizens of Swift Current, including of the surrounding
communities.
They advised that youth presently feel very frustrated and not valued. They would like an
opportunity to be heard by the residents of the community, and would like to contribute.
Participants expressed that youth have a choice to stay in the community since it is their home
and where they want to be.
Participants indicated there is a wealth of resources and expertise in the community and they
would like to develop these resources to their fullest potential.
They felt that ways should be found to bring all parties together for the full benefit of the
community. Participants have already established plans to meet with local officials to further
explore the issues.
5. CONCLUSIONS AND NEXT STEPS
The Youth Voices Workshop was a great opportunity for youth from Swift Current 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 Action Swift Current (an economic development
organization).
The participants were satisfied with the overall event and agreed that it met their expectations.
They did, however, offer a suggestion as a possible area to improve the event. The event
should have been longer (e.g. two days) and have included resource people (e.g. Royal
Canadian Mounted Police, health professionals) to answer questions related to health and
justice issues.
They welcomed and appreciated the opportunity to discuss their concerns, share their feelings
and explore the opportunities as they presented themselves. They also made it very clear that
this event was the beginning of a process which they very much want to drive. Participants felt
they had something to offer and very much wanted to be part of the solution and not the
problem, as their future would also be affected.
One of the key messages the participants conveyed was that in order to attract young people to
communities, people should listen to what they have to say and work with them since youth are
the future.
While participants had many concerns and issues, they only raised the ones which they
requested be addressed. These were in the following areas: health, education, transparency in
decision-making, communication, community involvement, culture, sports and recreation, the
arts, and entrepreneurship.
In support of the Swift Current youth, the Rural Secretariat's Regional Advisor for Saskatchewan
agreed to return to Swift Current in two months to review the local progress and provide
assistance wherever possible. In addition, the Regional Advisor plans to conduct a
Saskatchewan Rural Team meeting in Swift Current to support the local youth.
Date Modified: 2005-06-14
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