By Cecilia Nasmith
Cobourg's young Mayor For The Day who will take office Nov. 12 will be exceptional.
In fact, council voted at this week's committee-of-the-whole session to make an exception that will allow him to take office. For while the contest is open to students in Grades 7 to 12, Rowan Tardik (this year's designee) is a Grade 5 student at C.R. Gummow Public School.
The reason for the exemption, Mayor John Henderson explained, is that the only application he received for the honour was the one from the Grade 5 student that arrived on time.
“I thought, if the student went to this extent, its an honourable request. That's why it's before you,” Henderson said.
Councillor Nicole Beatty wondered how this could happen, especially since she herself had held three civics classes in council chambers last month.
Nevertheless, Henderson said, they had only received two applications last month.
Legislative clerk Brent Larmer theorized that the problem is the timing of the contest. The winner is announced during Local Government Week in October, which means the contest must take place during those busy first weeks of a new school term when new classes are taken, new friends are made, new clubs are joined, new sports are pursued.
As a rule, Larmer said, it is not unusual to receive only one to five applications. But he predicted that having the contest run all year will result in an increase.
Henderson said his executive assistant Toni Galea deserves a lot of credit for her efforts following up with schools, making phone calls, even approaching individuals who work with youth. He too expressed confidence for a better response.
The contest itself will continue, inviting students in Grades 7 to 12 to submit their ideas on how to make our community a better place to live, with the idea of increasing the interest and awareness of this age group in local-government activities.
The key feature going forward is that students can hand in submissions year-round.
