More than ever Innisfail needs the voice of youth to play an essential part in charting the future course of the community.
It's gratifying to know the Town of Innisfail, with the full support of Innisfail RCMP and Chinook's Edge School Division, wants a youth between the ages of 16 and 18 to be a voting member of the soon to be operational Innisfail Policing Committee.
We need the youth to add their voice to the multitude of safety and security issues facing the town.
By late October the new million-dollar skatepark will be completed and ready for local youth to enjoy. This is the biggest recreational facility investment the town has made in at least 25 years, and it may prove to be the most important.
For the time being the new skatepark has the potential to be Innisfail's primary three-season gathering place. There are plans to landscape the space formerly used by the local horseshoe club, with benches and possibly table put in. It will be a place many older non-skateboarders may want to meet, have coffee and enjoy the sounds of exuberant youth doing what they do best - having fun.
On the flip side, there have been naysayers from the past planning stages who had objections due to potential noise and its proximity to nearby residences, and of course there will be some worries because youth are, well, you know kids. Some do naughty stuff, they say. This is true.
And that is why it's so important youth have a representative to add a voting voice on the new policing committee. A committed well informed young person can, if the need arises, blunt concerns over noise or rowdiness with a fresh perspective and innovative ideas. He or she can be their voice of reason. What's more, a youth representative can add that same perspective to every other safety and security issue facing the town. He or she's voice is not restricted to just the skatepark.
For Innisfail, the young's time has arrived. We should all dance to that.
Johnnie Bachusky is the editor of the Innisfail Province.
