May 23, 2025
The 2024–25 Weyburn Youth Council (WYC) term was defined by hands-on learning, community involvement and meaningful opportunities for youth to contribute their voices to local, provincial and national discussions.
Led by Youth Mayor Jackson Stadnek (Gr. 12), Secretary Yuan Presto (Gr. 12), and Councillors Harper Williams (Gr. 11), Mariesa Erasmus (Gr. 10) and Bailey Roy (Gr. 10) the council represented Weyburn’s youth with dedication and enthusiasm.
Over the course of the term – running from October 2024 to June 2025 – WYC members participated in City Council meetings and offering youth perspectives on municipal issues. This involvement provides firsthand experience in governance and policy-making, reinforcing the importance of youth voices in shaping Weyburn’s future.
On May 22, WYC met with MLA for Weyburn-Bengough Mike Weger to discuss provincial initiatives affecting youth. The conversation focused on building stronger connections between young residents and their provincial representatives. Mr. Weger shared insights into his role as an MLA and expressed an interest in seeing more young people involved in shaping Saskatchewan’s future.
In April, WYC hosted the Captivator Series at Southeast College, welcoming Grade 9 students from Weyburn Comprehensive School. This year, the series featured the youth councillors as a panel to discuss why youth engagement matters. The event served both as a leadership moment for the councillors and as a meaningful recruitment and awareness opportunity for future youth leaders.
In February, the council hosted Member of Parliament Dr. Robert Kitchen. With Dr. Kitchen not seeking re-election in the 2025 federal election, the discussion served as a unique chance to reflect on federal leadership and explore how youth can help shape national conversations. Discussions centered on youth inclusion in governance, Weyburn’s community strengths and strategies for ensuring local youth have platforms to contribute to broader governmental discussions.
Beyond their youth council roles, members continued to demonstrate leadership in other areas. Councillor Williams remained active on the Weyburn Theatre Community Service Cooperative, while others brought their voices to school leadership teams and community organizations – showing how youth can lead in many ways, not just in formal settings.
As the term wraps up, the 2024–25 Weyburn Youth Council leaves a strong legacy of participation, dialogue, and initiative. Their work reflects both the support they’ve received from the City and the initiative they’ve shown in municipal governance. Both City Council and WYC encourages incoming members to build upon this foundation, fostering a more inclusive and participatory community for all.
Applications are open for the 2025-26 WYC term. Submission deadline is Sept. 30, 2025. Applications can be found on at weyburn.ca/youth-council.
(L-R) Coun. Sidloski, Youth Councillors Erasmus, Roy and Stadnek, MLA Weger, Youth Councillors Williams and Presto
(L-R) Mayor Richards, Coun. Sidloski, Youth Councillors Roy, Erasmus, Williams, Presto and Stadnek, MP Dr. Kitchen
(L-R) Mayor Richards, Coun. Sidloski, Youth Councillors Erasmus, Presto, Stadnek and Williams