Youth Advisory Panel for the Development of the Youth Retention and Attraction Strategy

• Nushka Blais
  Nushka is originally from Montreal, QC and is now a proud Newfoundlander studying at Memorial University with the hopes of achieving a biology major with a linguistic minor. She is the current president of Franco-Jeunes Terre-Neuve et Labrador, an organization for francophone youth of Newfoundland and Labrador. Nushka has been a part of St. John's volunteering force since moving here, helping mostly with the francophone and arts community but also as a member of many humanitarian societies and groups, including Oxfam, Amnesty International and the Rotary Club. She graduated from Holy Heart of Mary High School with an International Baccalaureate Diploma, and a great interest in being part of the solution to world issues, beginning with the issues right here at home.

• Remzi Cej
  Remzi has been a leader with Amnesty International at MUN, in this province and nationally. He has also had national positions with War Child Canada and the United Nations Association in Canada. Remzi has volunteered his time and skills to the AIDS Committee of Newfoundland and Labrador, Community Youth Network, St. John's International Women's Film and Video Festival, St. John's Food Banks, Coats for Kids Program and the Muslim Students Association. For many years Remzi has been an important part of the Association for New Canadians having served as Volunteer Coordinator, Workshops Facilitator, Tutor and Camp Counselor. Today he works as a Host Program Outreach Worker and has just completed his degree in French and German at MUN. Besides the Rhodes Scholarship, Remzi has received many academic awards and national and international recognition. He is the youngest recipient of the YM/YWCA Peace Medallion for Dedication to Human Rights, has received the Terry Fox Humanitarian Award, Youth Volunteer of the Year Award from the Newfoundland and Labrador Community Services Council and was awarded the Catalonia for Peace Award by the Government of Spain.

• Amanda Cull
  Amanda is currently attending the College of the North Atlantic in her home town of Happy Valley Goose Bay. She is enrolled in the Construction/Industrial Electrical program and is also the Vice President of the Student Council. Amanda enjoys all forms of art - she paints, draws with charcoals, makes traditional grass baskets, as well as plays bass and flute. Amanda is actively involved with the Metis Nation and served for a year as the Youth Director on the Central Labrador Economic Development Board. She also has a great passion for her province. She was elected to FINALY!'s Provincial Youth Council in November 2006 and currently serves on the executive as secretary.

• Jonathon Earle
  Jonathon is a proud member of ACE Memorial of which he is project leader of Moulder of Dreams and is currently expanding Think Green Internationally. Jonathon's hobbies include, fishing, hiking and swimming and he is also a certified project manager.

• Sabrina Fitzpatrick
  Sabrina is a Level III French Immersion student at Bishops College. She is a member of the Mayors Advisory Committee for St. John's. Youth of the year 2008 for St. John's, founder/co-ordinator of the Bishops College Kids Eat Smart Foundation. She was Miss Teen Canada in 2006, Miss Teen Newfoundland in 2006. Outside of school Sabrina is involved in two cheerleading teams and dancing. She will be attending Memorial University in September to start post-secondary education.

• Kent Foran
  Kent was born and raised in St. John's. He completed his English BA at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, NS, and his MA at Brock University in St. Catherines, ON. While he enjoyed many aspects of it, by 2007 he had enough of the academic life and so moved to Toronto, where he now writes for Ernst & Young. He divides his free time between making and writing about music.

• Sara Hann
  Sarah is a third year science student at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Sarah is active in her community with her primary commitment being the Canadian Diabetes Association where she has been recognized as Regional Volunteer of the Year - Canadian Diabetes Association in 2007. Sarah has traveled to Cuba with Canada World Youth, has been a high school tutor and childcare provider, a member the Student Council, Breakfast Program, Special Needs Unit, Students Against Drunk Driving at her high school and a volunteer with the YMCA-YWCA After School Program. Sarah is a member of the Lady Cove Women's Choir and is active with the Newfoundland Symphony Youth Choir (Shalloway) Alumni. Sarah plays in the St. John's Senior Ladies Soccer League and has been a rower since 2000.

• Jeremy Hoffe
  Jeremy Hoffe is a Level 2 student at A.R. Scammell Academy at Change Islands and is the Treasurer of the Student Council. He is very active in his community and volunteers during school activities and at the Change Islands, Youth Centre. Jeremy is interested in attending different social activities like PSLC and FINALY!. Jeremy also likes to travel, meet new people and explore new opportunities.

• Thomas Howard
  Thomas Howard is 18, resides in Baie Verte and is very active in many youth-related activities that go on locally, provincially and nationally. Thomas is a member of the Student Council at his school and in 2006 he took part in a "Move Your World" youth conference that was held in Fredericton, New Brunswick. He is also a member of the Sierra Club of Canada Environmental Education Committee. Thomas's interests include youth and environmental issues. He is an active volunteer in his community and hopes that FINALY! can help maximize his contribution to youth in this province.

• John McLean
  John McLean is 23 and is very involved in the community of St. John's. John volunteers at the Native Friendship Center, at Church as a Youth Leader for a youth group every Thursday, and also helps with a coffee house every Friday. As well, John volunteers at FINALY! as the youth safety coordinator/ administrative assistant. John's passion in life is to see people smile and make people laugh even if he makes a fool of himself to do so.

• Pam Morrissey
  Pam is a reporter/associate editor with The Aurora newspaper in Labrador West. She graduated from Holland College in Charlottetown, PEI with a diploma in journalism in May 2004 and moved back to her hometown of Labrador City to work in her field shortly thereafter. She is currently co-chair of the Hyron Youth Development Council, an award-winning board that represents young people from age 13 to 35 in Zone 2 (Labrador City, Wabush and Churchill Falls) and also sits on the Labrador West Status of Women board. Ms. Morrissey is also a member of FINALY! and is committed to helping young people find their voice in the decision-making process in their communities.

• Lezlee Anne Pitcher
  Lezlee Anne Pitcher is a Resource Administrator for The Youth Employment Services Centre in Marystown sponsored by FINALY!. She is a graduate from College of the North Atlantic Office Administrative Executive/Medical Diploma Program. She currently has held the position of Secretary for the Burin Peninsula Laubach Literacy Council for the past three years.

• Chris Sheppard
  Christopher Sheppard was born in the small Inuit community of Postville, Labrador. He became involved in community work first by volunteering with different groups, such as the heritage dog team races and Labrador winter games committees. During high school he was involved in other provincial organizations such as the Team Tobacco Team, which was a group of young people who helped spread messages of non-smoking, and the negative effects of smoking. After leaving high school, he pursued a post-secondary education at Memorial University of Newfoundland. During this time, he became involved in the St Johns Native Friendship Centre, an organization focused on assisting the transition of aboriginal people who have relocated to an urban centre from a rural setting. He currently works at the St Johns Native Friendship Centre, and remains a representative for the Atlantic region for the Aboriginal Youth Council. He is also involved in crime prevention initiatives by being a member of the Community Crime Prevention Committee of St Johns, as well as assisting the Aboriginal Steering Committee for the Newfoundland and Labrador Youth Centre, which is a youth correctional facility. The highlight of all his work came recently when he was chosen by Heritage Canada to represent aboriginal youth in Canada at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues at United Nations Headquarters in New York, where he became a part of the United Nations International Indigenous Youth Caucus.

• Daniel Smith
  Daniel is the current Newfoundland and Labrador Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students. The Federation is Canada's oldest and largest students' union, uniting over one half million students across the country, including every public post-secondary student in Newfoundland and Labrador. Daniel became active in the student movement in 2004 and has been fighting for accessible education ever since. Daniel lived in several rural communities as a child. He feels that moving around the island portion of the province gave him an understanding of the diversity of issues facing Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. Daniel graduated from Sir Wilfred Grenfell College in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and he is currently pursuing an advanced diploma in Tourism Studies.

• Kara Snow
  Kara is currently studying for a Bachelor of Business Administration through Distance Education at Memorial University from her hometown in St. Anthony. Kara has always been an active volunteer in her community and is very passionate about keeping youth in rural Newfoundland. Along with Youth Advisory Panel, Kara is also involved with the Youth Advisory Committee, The Provincial Council of the Rural Secretariat, and her local Boys and Girls Club.

• Adam Vickers
  Adam Vickers is a third year Political Science Major at Memorial University. He is an active member of the Political Science Society and hopes to pursue a career in Law. Adam is a senior member of the Newfoundland and Labrador Youth Advisory Council and is passionate about the youth of this province. In the past he has been involved with Junior Team Canada as a delegate of a trade mission to China and also as an organizer of a regional center in Corner Brook.

• Jenelle Welshman
  Jenelle is a Level 3 student at St. James Regional High School in Port aux Basques and is the Secretary of the Student Council. She is a brownie leader for the 1st Grand Bay Brownies, and on Sundays Jenelle teaches Sunday school at St. James Anglican Church. She is a member of CYN (Community Youth Network), a member of her school's drama club, and is also on her school's wrestling team. Jenelle likes to read, travel and the wonderful world of pageantry

• Heidi Williams
  Heidi is in her final year of Memorial's Bachelor of Commerce (Co-op) Program. She is proud to be the Executive Vice-President of SIFE Memorial. She was a member of last year's winning SIFE World Cup team and is on the 2009 SIFE World Cup Presentation Team. As well, she also plays soccer.

• Chan Wiseman
  Chan is a Political Science graduate from Memorial University and a Business Diploma graduate from the College of the North Atlantic. From 2008-09 Chan worked as a Business Development Officer with the College of the North Atlantic - Division of Contract Training and Continuing Education at the Clarenville and Bonavista Campuses. Today he is working with the College of the North Atlantic as a Business Development Officer at the Prince Philip Drive Campus in St. John's. Chan continues his work with young people as the Past-Chair of FINALY! He is also a member of the Youth Advisory Panel to help guide the development of the Provincial Government's Youth Retention and Attraction Strategy. In what little spare time he has, Chan enjoys traveling and exploring new food experiences. He skis, runs and lifts weights as part of an active and healthy lifestyle. Chan is an avid baseball fan and a fiercely proud Newfoundlander and Labradorian.

Youth Facilitators for the Deliberative Dialogues and Youth Summit

• Erin M. Aylward
• Megan Pelley
• Jonathon Earle
• Jan Reid
• Aaron Felt
• Chris Sheppard
• Alanna Felt
• Kara Snow
• Katherine Gambin
• Adam Vickers
• Thomas Kendell
• Joanne Whalen
• Christie Meadus
• Heidi Williams
• Pam Morrissey
• Chris Wilson

Canadian Policy Research Networks creates knowledge and leads public dialogue and discussion on social and economic issues important to the well-being of all Canadians.

Since its beginning in 1994, CPRN has provided advice to Canada's leaders on the issues of our times and produced policy options to move Canada forward. CPRN carries out its mission by:

• having experts do original research in all major socio-economic areas;
• conducting Canada-wide dialogues and round tables to discuss policy issues, raise awareness and align outcomes with public attitudes and expectations; and
• broadly disseminating its research to promote the engagement of Canadians in policy issues.

CPRN specializes in outreach to young Canadian leaders, helping them develop their skills and encouraging them to participate in public issues and policy development. These approaches have made CPRN one of Canada's most recognized sources of high quality, social and economic policy ideas, as well as a leader in civic engagement.

Find out more about the CPRN at: http://www.cprn.org/

Ministers' Committee for the Development of a Youth
Retention and Attraction Strategy

• Hon. Susan Sullivan, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment, Chair
• Hon. Darin King, Minister of Education
• Hon. Kathy Dunderdale, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women
• Hon. Shawn Skinner, Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development and Minister Responsible for the Rural Secretariat
• Hon. Charlene Johnson, Minister of Environment and Conservation
• Hon. Dave Denine, Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister Responsible for the Volunteer and Non-Profit Sector
• Hon. Patty Pottle, Minister Responsible for Aboriginal Affairs
• Mr. Keith Hutchings, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment
• Mr. Steve Kent, MHA, Mount Pearl
• Ms. Tracey Perry, MHA, Fortune Bay - Cape la Hune

Other Committees

• Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment
• Department of Education
• Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development
• Rural Secretariat
• Women's Policy Office
• Department of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs
• Volunteer and Non-profit Secretariat
• Health and Community Services
• Justice

External Partner Engagement for the Development of a Youth Retention and Attraction Strategy
(Written Submissions or In-Person Meetings/Presentations)

• Allied Youth
• Association of Social Workers
• Canadian Federation of Independent Business
• Canadian Federation of Students
• Codroy Valley Connectivity Project
• College of the North Atlantic
• Community Services Council
• Community Youth Network - Labrador
• Council of Marine Professional Associates - COMPASS
• Disabilities Council
• Federal Regional Council
• Franco Jeunes
• Futures in Newfoundland and Labradors Youth (FINALY!)
• Harris Centre
• Independent Living Resources Centre
• Industry Coordinating Committee (Skills Task Force)
• Labour Market Committee (Business / Labour / Government)
• Memorial University
• Municipalities NL
• National REDEE Conference
• Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Technological
• Industries (NATI)
• NL Regional Economic Development Association (NLREDA)
• Ocean Advance
• Réseau de développement économique et d'employabilité de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador (RDÉE TNL)
• Rural Secretariat - Corner Brook - Rocky Harbour
• Rural Secretariat - Grand Falls - Windsor - Baie Verte - Harbour Breton
• Rural Secretariat - Labrador
• Rural Secretariat - Provincial Council
• Rural Secretariat - St. Anthony - Port au Choix
• Rural Secretariat - Avalon Peninsula
• Rural Secretariat - Burin Peninsula
• Rural Secretariat - Clarenville - Bonavista
• Rural Secretariat - Gander -New-Wes -Valley
• Southeastern Aurora Youth Council
• St. John's Board of Trade
• St. John's Native Friendship Centre
• Strategic Partnership (Business / Labour / Government)
• Youth Ventures
• Youth Advisory Council