Meet and Greet with Mayor Watson, City Councillors and Staff!

It has become an annual tradition for us to host a reception with the Mayor, City Council and as many Ottawa City staff members as possible for a meeting of the minds to discuss how we can all work together to make Ottawa more youth friendly. This year we decided to use an old school communication tool, hand written letters, to express to everyone what youth in our community are thinking. We compiled a book of over 100 letters from youth on what their hopes and dreams for our city are, and presented those to Mayor Watson and Council so the youth voice is never far from reach. On April 28th, 2011 decision makers from City Hall gathered with youth members, despite the weather warnings, to celebrate the youth voice, then, now and for the future!

We want to especially thank Mayor Jim Watson, Councillor Eli El-Chantiry, Councillor Marianne Wilkinson for taking the time to come and speak to our youth members!

City Council – masked super heroes or your next door neighbours?

You know they’re there! You read about them in the paper, you see them on TV, you use their services every day – but you don’t know who they are!

They’re not answering to calls in the sky, wearing capes or hiding in caves -they want you to know who they are and what they do! Our City government, the elected City Councillors and Mayor, aren’t operating from a top secret cave miles underground Ottawa – they are working in our parks, our schools, our neighbourhoods, even on Facebook and Twitter, each and every day to make our City better!

Each area of Ottawa elects a City Councillor to represent them at City Council. They meet the second and fourth Wednesday of every month at City Hall (aka 110 Laurier Ave West) and you, yes YOU!, are invited to attend these meetings. At these meetings you’ll have a chance to hear about many issues happening in Ottawa, like policing, water, environment, transit and parks and recreation. Councilors are also on Standing Committees, which allow them to become experts on issues before they are discussed in Council meetings. It is at these Standing Committees that residents are invited to voice their opinions in a 5 minute presentation. It’s not only the elected officials that are making the decisions that impact our community, Council is advised by Advisory Committees which are comprised of Ottawa residents who have volunteered for these positions.

To find out what ward you are in, and who you’re Councillor is, use this handy tool provided by the City of Ottawa.

Okay, so they may not be masked or wear capes but they do fight to make our city safer and fun…

FYBY 48-hour Film Festival

This weekend, a wicked event is being held at the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa!

It is the 48-hour film festival hosted by FYBY (For Youth By Youth), a program of Child and Youth Friendly Ottawa. The film festival is an event where teams of 2-5 students are to shoot, edit and produce a short film in 48 hours! A theme is provided as guideline, but CREATIVITY is the key. The film fest ceremony will be held on Saturday, April 16^th 2011, at the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa. Awards will be presented to categorical winners and presentation of certain video shall be displayed.

Stay tuned to http://fybynews.com/ for updates on the Film Fest and other FYBY events!

Apathy is boring; Engagement is fantastic.

With a spring election slated for May 2, 2011, we have been thinking of engagement and how youth can fit into the election process. Going to the polls and voting is perhaps the best way to take part in the democratic process, but for those left out of the voting fun there are still fun and creative ways that you can get involved. Just because we can’t vote does not mean we are not socially committed!

And that is where Apathy is Boring comes in! Apathy is Boring, a Montreal based organization, aims to use art and technology to educate youth about democracy. AisB is disputing the myth that youth are too lazy and uninterested to care about what goes on in our world by getting youth educated in the issues and getting them out to vote.

Below is a letter from Apathy is Boring members Laura D’Angelo and Camilia Kahrizi on why being active community members is important to them:

Recently on my way to a school event I ran into some friends who were shocked, I mean really dumbfounded, that I was going.  When I told them that I had helped organize it, you would have thought I’d told them that I had decided to take a vow of silence (this would be absolutely impossible for me).

In their minds being involved in your school was a one-way ticket to social exile.

Well, I’m going to burst the bubble: being involved doesn’t make you an outcast or a brown-noser. It makes you feel like you are a part of something. I am super-involved at my school – planning events, raising money for charities – you name it. It’s a place to meet some awesome people who are interested in the same things OR have different opinions but are overall amazing.  The people you meet and the fun that you have will create an experience you will never forget. I know I won’t.

There are so many reasons why volunteering is fantastic. Not only is it a wonderful way to support a cause and help build a strong future, but also it can be useful on a personal level. You get to work on improving and acquiring skills, meet new people, gain experience or even academic credit. Above all, your involvement will give you the opportunity to work towards something important and learn more about the world around you.

I volunteer at Apathy is Boring – the national non-partisan project that uses art and technology to educate youth about democracy. We go to different concerts and events to start a dialogue with audiences about civic engagement. We also hold workshops, providing tools and resources to both youth and those to who wish to engage them. Finally, on our website, you can find inspiration in our artist profiles, featuring interviews with Canadian musicians such as K’naan and Tegan & Sara, all of whom choose to be actively engaged in their community.

So whether it be your school community, or your sports team, or your church – just find something that you think is great and get involved.

Apathy is Boring is a national non-partisan project that uses art and technology to educate youth about democracy. Please visit our website at www.apathyisboring.com

 

Act Locally – Change the World! (Volunteer Ottawa)

Volunteer Ottawa is a non-profit organization that promotes youth in Ottawa to take on acts of benevolence and shape their own society.They offer 300+ different volunteer programs for those wishing to complete their mandatory 40 hours to graduate or youth who wishes to develop new skills and gain experience in a variety of professional fields.

The following is written by Damien Martin, Program Coordinator of Volunteer Ottawa:

Act Locally – Change the World!

The cyclists rolled onto the property of the organic farm in the early afternoon on a blazing hot June day. Though they had been biking hard all morning, they had a job to do so, after receiving instructions from the gardener, they set right to work. For the next several hours they toiled away pulling weeds and hauling them away. Their backs, legs and hands ached. They were sunburned and sweaty. And, they loved every minute of it.

This hard working group consisted of about 15 volunteers from the Otesha Project – an Ottawa- based environmental education organization that tours sections of the country by bicycle, spreading the word of sustainable consumption through theatre and workshops. They were working hard and not getting a pay cheque. Looking closer however, there was a lot more going on. Team members were being paid in something else… laughter floated across the fields. They were having a blast! Sharing life experiences allowed the team to develop a deep sense of friendship, and now they were making connections in the community – including priceless contacts that could one day open up career doors. They were learning skills, gaining experience and, when you get right down to it – changing the world.”

Hundreds of Ottawa youth get involved in great volunteer opportunities like Otesha’s “Ferocious Farm Tour” every year (they have four tours this year – check out www.otesha.ca to learn more.) The best way to find these opportunities is through Volunteer Ottawa. Volunteer Ottawa has approximately 250 member organizations that last year advertised over 1100 volunteer opportunities. These range from onetime events to ongoing volunteer positions. There is something to meet every interest – from animals to the environment to festivals and events to writing. The volunteer Ottawa website (www.volunteerottawa.ca) allows you to search for volunteer opportunities by interest, availability and location. With all this choice, the Volunteer Ottawa tag line – “There are a million ways to volunteer…what’s yours?” is not an exaggeration.

Still not sure how (or why) to get involved? There is so much more you can do and so many reasons to do so over and above the forty hours over four years you need to graduate from high school. An exciting way to explore these reasons or to give volunteering a second chance is coming this April. The ChangeTheWorld: Ontario Youth Volunteer Challenge aims to get youth aged 14-18 volunteering in their community. The challenge runs from April 10 (the start of national volunteer week) until May 1st. Organizations all across Ottawa are organizing volunteer events that will occur during the challenge. After March 11, those interested in taking part in a volunteer event can check out the Volunteer Ottawa website and click on the “ChangeTheWorld” logo. You need only find an event that interests you and apply online or contact the organization hosting the event. The hours volunteered during the challenge will count towards your community involvement requirement and your registration for a ChangeTheWorld event will enter your name into a draw for some great prizes.

So, take the plunge and take the challenge. You have nothing to lose and you (and the people you will be helping with the gift of your time) have much to gain. There is a great chance that you, like those Otesha cyclists toiling happily in the soil, will always remember and be thankful for the opportunity to change the world.

Damien Martin,

Program Coordinator – Youth Volunteer Engagement

Volunteer Ottawa

Did you know??

Have you ever wondered what safety features are available to you when you’re riding the bus? We have! This is why we have compiled information from The City of Ottawa and OC Transpo on safety features available to you, so you can have a happier trip!

Night Stops: After 9pm, there are night stops at certain Transitway Stations which are centrally located and close to yellow emergency phones and pay phones. Night stops are well lit and marked in yellow with the Transecure logo.

After 9pm: You can ask the bus driver to drop you off anywhere along to route to ensure you get home safely.

Transit Law Enforcement Officers: Transit Law Enforcement officers are available to ensure your safety. Some officers are wearing plain clothing.

Trouble/assistance: You do not have to be a bus rider to ask any OC Transpo employee for help.

Reporting incidents: Report incidents to 613-741-2478. Consequences for offenders can include a fine up to $5,000 and a court appearance. Any person with knowledge of a crime can call or TEXT Crime Stoppers to 613-233-TIPS (233-8477) or 1-800-222-8477.

Transit Special Constables: Transit Special Constables are Peace Officers and have the power of a cop to enforce the Criminal Code of Canada, the Controlled Drug and Substances Act, the Liquor License act, the Trespass to Property Act, and the Safe Streets Act on all OC Transpo buses and property.

Safety and Security at Transit Stations: If you feel lost or sick, harassed or threatened, call any OC Transpo vehicle, speak to any OC Transpo employee or use the yellow emergency callbox.

Yellow emergency call boxes are located throughout stations and in each elevator. Use them in an emergency, if you or someone else needs help or if you feel threatened. Press the button and you’ll be connected with to OC Security Control Centre via intercom.

For a more private conversation, use any pay phone in the station to make a free, direct, no-dial call to Security— just press the “Security”  button located under the number pad.

Closed circuit TV cameras monitor major station platforms, and all stations are patrolled by Transit Law Enforcement Officers.

Taxi Link: If you’re travelling by bus after midnight, and need a taxi to complete your trip home, a taxi will meet you at a designated taxi pick up location at most Transitway Stations.

Just call a taxi company on your cell phone or a pay phone and provide the name of the station and your approximate arrival time.

If you don’t have a cell phone or two quarters, your bus operator may be able to assist you — just ask. The operator may be able to arrange for a taxi to meet you at a station

Own Your Education!

This past Tuesday, March 1^st, The Ottawa Youth Commission presented their Civic Participation video and workshop at the FYBY Summit. During the workshop over 150 students wrote letters to their City Councilors to be sent in a letter to City Council. We think the City Councilors are going to be really excited about all the inspirational ideas our youth have! Here is some more information about the Summit:

Breakdancing, beatboxing and graffiti…oh my! Not what you’d expect from an Education Conference, but then again For Youth, By Youth isn’t your typical Educational group. On March 1^st FYBY held a Summit at Confederation High School titled “Own Your Education” which brought together educators and students from around our community to discuss mental health and wellness in the school system. Groups from Notre Dame, Rideau, Longfield Davidson Heights and Holy Trinity High Schools created videos and facilitated workshops on areas in mental health such as stress, career paths, making good decisions and youth engagement which were presented to the over 150 students and educators in attendance.  This was a great opportunity to see the impact of peer-to-peer education and to see students take ownership of their education.

Here is a link from Metro who attended the Summit as well: http://www.metronews.ca/ottawa/local/article/789609–summit-gives-youth-a-voice