Glenmary Student Mikayla Dubois Selected for the 2020/21 Minister’s Youth Council
Posted: October 20, 2020
Holy Family Catholic Regional Division (HFCRD) warmly congratulates Glenmary School student Mikayla Dubois who has been selected to be on the 2020/21 Minister’s Youth Council. Mikayla is one of 41 high school students selected from across Alberta from hundreds of applicants. The Minister’s Youth Council will meet three times during the 2020/21 school year to participate in discussions and activities with Minister of Education Adriana LaGrange. The Council has already met once virtually where Mikayla was able to begin her advocacy.
“I wanted to join the Council to advocate for special needs supports in schools. I want to see more Educational Assistants, more technology, and more awareness about mental health. I want mental health support to be a conversation, and not just a poster on the wall,” said Mikayla. “I really enjoy being on the Council. We met directly with Minister LaGrange and Speaker Cooper and we talked about very important topics that affect all students. We focused a lot on goal setting, and they made me feel like a leader.”
Mikayla is a very courageous young woman with a lot of life experience at a young age. After battling brain cancer, Mikayla developed several brain disorders and is visually and hearing impaired. Mikayla, who is currently 17 years old and in grade 12, says she was so excited to be chosen to be on the Council. When she received the email, she said she ran around her house screaming with excitement.
She says she has already learned a lot from the other students on the Council, and enjoys hearing all their different perspectives. Students from across the province are providing valuable input on their experiences in the education system, with a focus on the return to school through the pandemic.
“Mikayla is an exemplary student and we are proud to have her representing our school on the Minister’s Youth Council. I am confident that she will advocate for special needs students everywhere with dignity and grace,” said Glenmary School Principal David Amiot. “We look forward to watching Mikayla learn and grow throughout this experience, and share her new knowledge with our school.”
Mikayla would like to thank everyone who supported her throughout the application process. She thanks Mrs. Goudreault for encouraging her and for helping her fill out the application. She thanks Mrs. Coen who gave her the idea to apply and encouraged her. She thanks Rhonda Davidson who encouraged her to apply for the Council and said that Mikayla would be the perfect person to advocate for special needs supports. Lastly, she thanks her grandparents for supporting her every day, and keeping her calm during the application process, and for all their help throughout her life.
