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Rebeka Thompson to be the mayor

Grade 11 student wins contest to be Parksville’s mayor for a day

Parksville has a winner.

In recognition of Youth Week in B.C., Parksville city council recently conducted a Mayor for a Day essay contest.

Rebeka Thompson a 17- year-old, Grade 11 student at Ballenas Secondary School is the author of the winning essay and will serve as honourary mayor for a day.

Emma Deering, a 13-year-old Grade 8 student from Springwood Middle School was chosen as deputy mayor.

This is the second year Parksville council has provided an opportunity for youth to speak their minds during the Mayor for a Day contest.

Chosen by council, the essays were passionate, honest and thoughtful and the concerns brought forward by the students are very similar to the issues faced by council. A total of 10 essays were received by the city.

On May 9, the two honourary council members will spend the day with Mayor Chris Burger to see first-hand how the city operates on a typical day. Both students will attend the May 7 council meeting and will be recognized for their submissions.

As Honourary Mayor for the Day, Thompson will participate in the meeting and read her essay to Council and to the public.

“We were impressed by many of the ideas expressed in the student essays and I look forward to hosting Rebeka and Emma,” said Mayor Chris Burger.

 

Youth Week is a provincial celebration of youth held annually during the first week of May and an opportunity for the city to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions made by young people in their communities and to celebrate the valuable work youth and youth organizations do year round.