It was a bit of déjà vu for two alumni of Youth Parliament of Manitoba who are now both serving with the organization’s senate.
Youth Parliament of Manitoba (YPM) aims to foster interest and engagement in the Canadian democratic parliamentary process among Manitoba youth aged 16 to 20.
The organization, which is a non-partisan, non-denominational registered charity, launched in 1922 and is the longest consecutively running youth parliament in Canada.
Each year, YPM hosts a five-day mock parliamentary session at the Manitoba legislative building, and all youth aged 16 to 20 are invited to sit as members who can debate issues related to youth.
On the last day of the session, the members elect a five-person executive made up of volunteers aged 18 to 25 to serve for one year. The executive takes care of administrative tasks related to YPM. In addition, the executive also names members of the cabinet, which is YPM’s organizing committee.
Alumni of the organization can also continue to be involved. Last year, Alan Campbell was appointed as the honorary president, a position that usually lasts up to five years. Appointed by the YPM executive, the honorary president can serve as an advisor for planning the annual event and with operational matters between sessions. The honorary president might also help with additional tasks such as fundraising and securing grants and accommodations for the session.
In another local connection, Katie Szilagyi was asked to fill this year’s role of lieutenant-governor, a position that changes annually.
They both graduated in 2003 in the Interlake School Division — Szilagyi from Stonewall Collegiate Institute and Campbell from Teulon Collegiate Institute. In addition, they both started with YPM during the 80th session in December 2001.
Szilagyi went on to achieve her PhD in law and is an assistant professor at the University of Manitoba. She also won the Governor General’s award for having the best doctoral dissertation in the humanities at the University of Ottawa in 2022.
Initially, she got involved in YPM at the urging of her Grade 11 social studies teacher, Mr. George Shadlock, at SCI.
“He was a big advocate for experiential learning and really believed in me,” she said.
“I loved it from the very beginning. It gave me a sense of place and purpose, exposed me to a much broader, diverse group of students, and delivered me many of my very best friends.”
Szilagyi was involved with YPM for the 80th to 87th sessions.
“Alan and I were backbenchers together in the 80th session. I served on cabinet from the 81st to 83rd sessions and on the executive from the 84th to 87th sessions. I was premier of the 86th session and speaker of the 87th session,” she said.
“I was then appointed to the Senate and served as speaker of the Senate for the 88th session.”
When the current executive reached out to ask her to be the lieutenant-governor, Szilagyi said she felt grateful for the honour.
“It was very enjoyable to return to the legislature, watch the debates, see the organization propagating and know that the students today are developing skills and friendships in the same way we once did,” she said.
“YPM offered me the opportunity to find my voice, to feel heard, to develop leadership skills and to essentially run a historic not-for-profit organization in my early 20s. It is not a stretch to say that it made me the person I am today. Many of my closest friends to this day are people I met at YPM.”
As for Campbell, he is known for his role as president of the Canadian School Boards Association, past-president of the Manitoba School Boards Association and board chair for Interlake School Division.
“I have been involved in politics from a very young age, so when my Grade 10 social studies teacher asked about Youth Parliament, I jumped at the opportunity. Spending five days in the Manitoba legislature in a mock parliament, debating in the same chamber and committee rooms used by government and getting to make lifelong friends were among the highlights,” he said.
“As a political hack, YPM offers the opportunity to truly understand the legislative development process while at the same time debating issues that are important to the youth of society — often times debating on issues that will in the future form the basis for actual legislation provincially or federally.”
Campbell was in YPM from 2001 to 2005, serving in his first year as a backbencher and then in the cabinet. In 2009, he was appointed to the senate and has been the honorary president for the past two years. He continues to stay in touch with a few fellow YPM alumni members.
“My involvement in YPM was undoubtedly one of the most impacting experiences of my life thus far. There are few youth organizations which provide its membership with opportunities to immerse themselves in meaningful debate and deliberation on important social and political matters facing society today — all entirely led and fostered through a youth lens,” he said.
“I would highly recommend it to any youth who are politically interested or who may just be passionate about making the world a better place.”
Visit www.ypmanitoba.ca to learn more about Youth Parliament of Manitoba.
