Tia-Lee McCallum was selected as the Saskatchewan Rivers School Division Youth Council representative for 2020-2021. (submitted photo/Prince Albert Collegiate Institute)

By Alison Sandstrom

New generation

Local Youth Council representative aims to uplift other young people

Sep 29, 2020 | 5:45 PM

A Grade 11 student from Prince Albert Collegiate Institute (PACI) was named to the Saskatchewan Youth Council.

Tia-Lee McCallum, 16, is among 12 young people selected to serve as advisors to the provincial Minister of Education for the 2020-2021 school year. She’s one of two students chosen from the local region.

McCallum, who will represent Saskatchewan Rivers School Division, told paNOW she’s passionate about uplifting other youth and creating a new generation of leaders. She plans to use the position to advocate for mental health supports and Indigenous issues.

“For me I think mental health is one of the biggest issues our youth face today because it stops them from opening their true potential,” McCallum explained, adding her own experience with mental health gives her a useful perspective.

Through the Youth Council, McCallum also hopes to learn more about politics.

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She said her interest in the field, and a potential future career in it, comes from her mom who taught her about the Eighth Fire Prophecy.

“[The prophecy] is about how my generation is going to light the internal flame of peace,” she explained. “It’s kind of a bit of a big responsibility for my generation, but I think we can do it, so I’m going to do my part.”

As she steps into her new role on Youth Council, PACI principal Dave Lokinger said he has total confidence McCallum will be a great representative for the school division and young people in general.

“I think it’s about time that people quit worrying about what they think teenagers are like,” he said. “They need to hear a little bit more from the wonderful people like Tia-Lee McCallum to make us believe us that the future is in great hands.”

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom