Members of the Post-Secondary Student Council meet at the Provincial Legislature. (Submitted Photo/Government of Saskatchewan)

By Derek Craddock

SPEAKING UP FOR STUDENTS

P.A. and area students wrap up inaugural year for Sask. post-secondary student council

Apr 18, 2024 | 10:00 AM

The first-ever Saskatchewan post-secondary student council has wrapped up the year with some Prince Albert and area students taking part in the experience.

About 21 students from across the province were accepted into this year’s council, sharing their perspectives on mental health and wellbeing, transitioning in and out of post-secondary education, and financing that education.

Of the students who participated were two from Prince Albert: Meagan Nolan and Karsen Rylee Mclachlan, and one from Duck Lake: Misty Autumn Miyosew Iskwew Gardypie.

Nolan told paNOW that she was approached by a colleague, encouraging her to apply. She initially hesitated because she already leads a busy lifestyle.

“Do I have enough time to put that on my plate,” she said. “I’m so involved in quite a different bunch of different community stuff in that plus being a full-time student. But I did it.”

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Most of the meetings with the council were held online. However, Nolan said they eventually met in person and toured the provincial legislature.

“I really enjoyed that because you got to actually see the people you’ve been spending a year with working with and discussing with.”

The council members had many opportunities to share the issues they believe college and university students are facing. For Nolan, this included mental health and well-being and more support systems within the schools. This could involve hiring an outreach worker.

Nolan, a Two-Spirit Indigenous student, said she and other students on the council also talked about the growing concerns with affordability.

“When I was sharing these concerns, I just said ‘We have to think about food scarcity, we have to think about the inflation and the cost of everything rising, how housing is so expensive.”

Nolan feels encouraged by the council, believing the government representatives who organized it were listening. While she’s hopeful some positive change comes out of those discussions, she knows future student councils will need to continue in their footsteps.

Nominations for the 2024-25 council have been submitted and the Ministry of Advanced Education is in the final stages of the selection process.

“If you’re running for Student Council, kind of know what it’s about, and then maybe have discussions with your fellow classmates and people in your lives that might not have those same issues as you,” said Nolan. “Because then you’re not just bringing yours to the table, you’re bringing the collective groups to the table, which can reach more.”

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derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com