Current Activities
"Your Life - Getting On With
It!" Conference
The BTYC recently held a "Your Life -
Getting On With It!" Conference that was held on October 4, 2020 from 10:00 a.m. -
4:30 p.m. at Fong's Restaurant in Carbonear. The conference invited youth to discuss the
hardships associated with the transition from secondary to post-secondary and the problems
of gaining successful employment in the area. Through round table discussions, the
following key issues were developed:
Youth are fearing tremendous financial burden and are concerned with the
transition from rural to urban. Youth feel that the problems and financial burdens
associated with the transition are believed to affect relationships with peers as well as
studying habits.
Parents are making uniformed career decisions on behalf of their
children. It is necessary for parents to become more educated on the education and
employment opportunities that are available.
- Information Sessions are necessary for parents to discuss post-secondary education and
employment options that are available to their children. The sessions will also provide
information to the parents on how to encourage and assist their children in making an
educational and future career decision.
- Youth should work during high school and take advantage of available programs to
alleviate financial burden.
- Government should revamp the Federal and Provincial Student Loan Program so as to better
meet the needs of the rural to urban phenomenon.
- The Department of Education should make a Career Exploration Course a mandatory part of
the high school curriculum.
- The Department of Education should increase the ratio of Guidance Counsellors to
students so that the Guidance Counselors can focus more on career issues in order to
provide detailed information on post-secondary institutions and the requirements of
respective programs.
- Youth feel that the transition from grades 10, 11, 12 is too great - the curriculum
should be more comprehensive.
- Career Counsellors should be available to students in the junior and senior high
schools.
- Money management and student loan information should be promoted and more easily
accessible to secondary and post-secondary students. The Canada/Newfoundland and Labrador
Student Loan Program is very complex and intimidating to many youth.
- A vehicle should be developed so that older youth can share their post-secondary
experiences with high school students as a way of better preparing themselves for future
educational and employment opportunities.
- Youth feel that the Community Youth Info Fairs that were offered in April - May 2003
were beneficial and should be re-introduced into the high school system annually.
- Government agencies, stakeholders, and community organizations should take a more
proactive role in making information available on career options. Information should be
available to secondary and post-secondary students relating to unemployment statistics as
well as labour market information so as to help in more informed career decisions.
- Government agencies, stakeholders, and community organizations should become more
"youth-friendly" so as to encourage youth participation in the services
provided.
- A vehicle should be developed that could track current issues and concerns of youth as
they relate to labour market and career decision making..
- The Department of Education should re-introduce Co-operative Education into the high
school curriculum in order to offer experiential learning to the students.
- Scholarship information should be made available to youth so as to alleviate financial
burden.
- The Canada/Newfoundland and Labrador Student Loan Program should take a more personal
approach (e.g., e-mailing updates and sample packages to secondary and post-secondary
students)
- Youth feel that due to the high unemployment levels, it is very difficult to gain
experience in order to find a job. As well, it is "not what you know but who you
know."
- Youth are more often than not selecting education that does not fit our economy.
These key issues will be reviewed by the BTYC as well as the Trinity Conception Youth
Protocol Committee, M-RON Inc., and FINALY! Initiaitves will be based upon the key issues
listed above.
As well, the "Your Life - Getting On With It!" Conference saw the election of
the 2003 - 2004 BTYC. The following youth were elected:
Samantha Bursey (Chairperson, Northern Region)
Melanie Saunders (Vice Chairperson, Southern Region)
Lisa Bowering (Secretary, Southern Region)
Tara Fowler (Treasurer, Northern Region)
Lesley Blake (Northern Region)
Christina Doyle (Northern Region)
Nadine Howell (Northern Region)
Tanya Rumboldt (Southern Region)
Lisa Lynch (Southern Region)
Melissa Jenkins (Central Region)
Kim White (Central Region)
Krysten Piercey (Central Region)
Jimmy Harris (Youth Representative)
If you would like to become a member of the BTYC or if you would like to contact the
members, please see our Contact Us section.
Looking for Membership!
The BTYC is currently seeking membership from youth,
ages 15 - 29 years, who reside on the Baccalieu Trail. As a member, you will be invited to
all BTYC initiatives, receive a quarterly newsletter as well as have an opportunity to
become an elected member of the BTYC by attending the annual AGM held each fall.
Click
here for a membership application.
Stay
tuned for more information!
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