Two Grade 10 students from Portage Collegiate Institute have wrapped up their term as youth councillors for the City of Portage la Prairie, gaining hands-on experience in local government and community engagement.
Francois Barnachea and Yuvan Ramachandran officially concluded their roles at Monday night’s council meeting on Aug. 11. The pair began their term in the fall and spent several months attending meetings, supporting local initiatives, and helping organize events for their peers.
“I think we had a great term. I’m glad that I had the experience. I learned a lot about the workings of our city council,” remarks Ramachandran.
Barnachea adds that the role offered valuable learning opportunities both inside and outside the council chambers.
“It was definitely an interesting experience. I learned a lot while sitting at council. We also had the opportunity to help out our school and community in a way we couldn’t before due to our budget and just go around helping others out and learning more about Portage,” he says.
Both youth councillors say one of the most memorable experiences was organizing the volunteer fair at Portage Collegiate Institute in partnership with the Youth Hub.
“The volunteer fair, which we put on with the Youth Hub, which took place at PCI. That was a successful event that we had planned for a while,” continues Ramachandran.
Barnachea notes that seeing their ideas come to life and support local organizations was rewarding.
The fair offered students an opportunity to connect with local non-profits and discover ways to get involved, providing a tangible example of the youth council’s impact on the community.
While both Barnachea and Ramachandran are uncertain about their future in student council or politics, they acknowledge the experience has opened doors and sparked interest in civic engagement.
“Now that we have a background, it might be nice to have a hand in the way our community’s run,” remarks Ramachandran.
Serving as youth councillors allowed Barnachea and Ramachandran to observe the inner workings of city council and gain insight into municipal decision-making.
The role is advisory, providing students a platform to share youth perspectives and help shape community initiatives.
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