The Town of Whitecourt will be holding a new initiative for the week of May 1 – 8, called the Spirit of Youth Week in addition to the Spirit of Youth Award.
“It was a priority for the community services board to recognize youth a little bit more in the community,” says Whitecourt Youth Development & Family Support Coordinator Emma Harper. “So this is an idea that they came up with. Similar to Senior’s Week, we’ll have the full week of events from the first to the eighth, and then we’ll have awards on May 23rd.”
Town officials say this special week is an opportunity for residents to recognize and promote the contributions and accomplishments made by youths aged 12 to 18 in and around Whitecourt and Woodlands County as well as acknowledge and celebrate youth citizens that display advocacy, leadership, community engagement, arts and culture, perseverance, and peer support.
Organizers say different events have been planned throughout the week for organizations to showcase their youth programming and supports as well as for youth to try new activities, such as:
May the Fourth be with You Dodgeball Tournament
May 4 – 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Allan and Jean Millar Centre
$10.00 per team (6-8 players)
Gymnastics Free Play
May 5 – 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Rivers Rec Gymnastic Club
Retro Neon Cycle Night
May 8 – 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Allan and Jean Millar Centre
On Monday, May 13, the Whitecourt Youth Advisory Committee will be hosting Town Hall Meetings at Percy Baxter Middle School and Ecole St. Mary School. Officials say these meetings provide an opportunity for students to learn about municipal governance and ask questions of Town Council.
On Thursday, May 23, an in person celebration will take place at Central School commencing at 7:00 p.m. Organizers say nominees and their guardians, nominators, and members of Council will be invited to attend. Officials say this celebration will include congratulatory greetings on behalf of Council from the Mayor of the Town of Whitecourt and Reeve of Woodlands County, as well as a guest speaker presentation.
Nominated youth will receive an award with the Spirit of Youth logo engraved on it and a certificate of accomplishment signed by the Mayor and Reeve.