The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Flin Flon City Council has gained a fresh point of view with high school student Chris Sweryda on board as a youth representative. The Hapnot Collegiate senior, who attended his first meeting on Tuesday, looks forward to offering his input on municipal matters throughout the school year. "I wanted to be able to represent the students of my school on a larger scale," said Chris, 17. "I felt I already had a pretty big impact within the school, so I wanted to go out of the school to have an impact within the entire community. I felt that was a good reason for me to become the city council rep." The youth representative position is coordinated through Hapnot Student Council, which since 2001 has sent an interested student to the council meetings. Chris' time with mayor and council gives him good experience if he ever decides to enter politics. But the truth is, like many young people, he hasn't yet picked which career path to take. "I'm hoping that during my final year of school, I may actually try to decide what I want to do in the future. I haven't yet," he said. "I'm keeping all doors open, which is why I'm trying to take as many classes as I possibly can." Though Chris isn't allotted a vote, Mayor Dennis Ballard told the student Tuesday that his insight is welcome at any time. "I hope this will prove to be an interesting experience for you," the mayor told the youth. Past youth representatives on council were Keith Pauley, April Geneau and Heather Pauley.
