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9 <br />burlington: youth <br />engagement in action <br />Burlington.has.been.participating.in.Ontario’s. <br />Local.Government.Week.(LGW).since.2009.. <br />The.municipality.has.excelled.in.motivating. <br />and.engaging.youth.of.all.ages.in.numerous. <br />activities.within.the.community..The.initiative,. <br />over.the.years,.has.shown.a.positive.impact. <br />on.the.public.and.has.increased.morale. <br />among.municipal.staff..Burlington.highly.. <br />encourages.other.municipalities.to.initiate.. <br />a.LGW..This.section,.based.on.an.interview. <br />with.municipal.staff,.provides.an.overview.. <br />of.the.city’s.program.and.tips.for.success. <br />Description of Program <br />Burlington.organized.three.main.activities.. <br />for.its.2013.LGW..These.included: <br />•.a PoSter conteSt.for.grade.5.students. <br />based.on.the.question:.“What.does.local. <br />government.mean.to.you?”.About.45.. <br />children.participated.and.voting.took.place. <br />at.City.Hall.and.on.Burlington’s.website. <br />•.School VISItS.targeted.to.grade.10.. <br />students.in.civic.classes..The.mayor.and. <br />city.councillors.visited.a.high.school.in. <br />each.ward.to.give.a.presentation.on.. <br />local.government. <br />•.munIcIPal Staff PoSterS.that.profiled.. <br />people.leading.key.projects.in.the.city..The. <br />posters.enabled.Burlington.to.personalize. <br />municipal.champions.and.provide.youth. <br />with.a.greater.sense.of.the.real.people.and. <br />the.career.opportunities.in.local.govern- <br />ment..These.posters.were.hung.in.public. <br />places.like.libraries,.art.centres,.arenas,. <br />commu.nity.centres,.and.City.Hall. <br />Resources Needed <br />In.2013,.the.clerks’.department.led.Burling- <br />ton’s.LGW.with.a.voluntary.staff.committee.. <br />The.committee.included.members.from.the. <br />communications.and.web.graphics.team,.a. <br />councillor’s.assistant,.a.representative.from. <br />the.mayor’s.office,.and.two.committee.clerks.. <br />They.had.five,.one-hour.meetings.to.delegate. <br />tasks..Staff.noted.in.an.interview.that,.each. <br />year,.the.project.becomes.easier.and.more. <br />manageable.as.they.accumulate.templates. <br />and.gain.experience. <br />Lessons Learned <br />This.initiative.helped.build.awareness.. <br />and.create.opportunities.for.citizens.to.see. <br />how.close.local.government.is.to.them..It.. <br />encouraged.youth.to.pursue.municipal.. <br />careers.because.it.demonstrated.what.types. <br />of.jobs.exist.and.highlighted.local.govern- <br />ment’s.role.within.the.community..The.youth. <br />also.thoroughly.enjoyed.the.initiative..Offer- <br />ing.a.prize.in.the.poster.contest.added.ex- <br />citement.and.motivation,.and.helped.increase. <br />participation. <br />Words of Wisdom <br />Burlington.provided.a.list.of.suggestions.. <br />for.other.municipalities.hoping.to.initiate.a. <br />similar.event: <br />•.Use.ready-made.resources.such.as.the. <br />Association.of.Municipal.Managers,.Clerks. <br />and.Treasurers.of.Ontario’s.LGW.webpage. <br />and.personalize.it.to.the.needs.and.style. <br />of.the.municipality. <br />•.Collaborate,.connect,.and.share.resources. <br />with.other.municipalities,.especially.if.from. <br />smaller.towns. <br />•.Incorporate.citizen.committees.or.partner- <br />ships.with.local.high.schools.or.universities. <br />that.may.have.local.government.courses.