CARSTAIRS - A local high school student from Carstairs has been selected to the RCMP National Youth Advisory Committee.Kayla Kornicki was selected after applying in October following a suggestion by a local RMCP officer.
The advisory committee is made up of youth from all across Canada. The goal of the committee is to engage youth by providing them with the opportunity to share their thoughts and opinions on youth crime and victimization issues.
Kornicki, who has lived in Carstairs her whole life, was thrilled to find out she was selected for the committee.
"I'm very interested in being a cop," she said. "I already have five members in my family who are RCMP, I want to be the sixth."
Kornicki had already begun volunteering for the local detachment, which led to her being asked about applying for the advisory position.
"I looked on the RCMP website and saw something about a student volunteer program. I took a cover letter and resume and took it to the Didsbury detachment and asked them about a volunteer program I could do."
Kornicki said she started doing projects involving school presentations talking about drugs and Internet safety.
"I'm going to be starting that in February," she said. "I'm doing a drug one for the staff and parents from the school. At school one day I was approached by Const. Dillon who handed me some papers and asked if I would be interested (in the RMCP National Youth Advisory Committee)."
Kornicki filled out several forms and sent them in. She found out in November that she was accepted as one of only 100 committee members from across Canada.
"I was so happy when I found out," she said. "My dad was sleeping -- he works nights. I woke him up and he was so happy for me."
The committee has an active role in shaping what the RCMP offers young people by first identifying issues affecting youth, secondly addressing community concerns, and finally, designing initiatives to foster change and address their needs.
The program has already started and the first issue they talked about was drug abuse. The group is moderated by RCMP officers.
"It's on a Facebook group," she said. "One of the questions was what do kids mostly do on, say, a Friday night; what drugs are most common in your community. Each month we do a different topic. We also had to do a video and we've had to fill out surveys."
Kornicki said one of the topics they will be tackling next will be sexuality and gender issues. She is very impressed with the program so far and is enjoying contributing to the conversation.
"It's very well set up," she said. "It's very good. I want to bring awareness to issues. I want to learn more and I think it's a great way to get my foot in the door. I want to voice my opinion on issues and help out as much as I can."
Kornicki is also involved with the Carstairs branch of Citizens on Patrol.
"I go on patrol with my dad," she said. "We have a radio and we drive around town. If we see something suspicious we radio it in."
The age group for the committee is from 12 years old to 18 years old. The appointment lasts for one year.
"I'm very interested in being a cop," she said. "I already have five members in my family who are RCMP, I want to be the sixth."Kayla Kornicki
