Student Councils 2.0 Election Process
With the support of the Department of Canadian Heritage, CASAA and DECODE are pursuing a new look and direction for the election process in Canadian secondary schools. This is a national project which will involve many schools across the country seeking input and direction for a model election process.
Canadian Heritage is responsible for national policies and programs that promote Canadian content, foster cultural participation, active citizenship and participation in Canada's civic life, and strengthen connections among Canadians.
Rationale:
Much has been made in recent years about declining rates of participation in Canada’s political systems, particularly among young Canadians. Many blame the current political climate. But are there underlying causes that have led us to this point? How are young Canadians introduced to governance?
Young Canadians’ first experience in democracy is their high school student council. But key issues, such as the nature of elections, the structure of student governments, and the responsibilities of student governments to student bodies are subject to individual decisions made by local schools and school boards. Furthermore, civics classes are largely unconnected from real-world practice of democratic governance.
Through the Student Council Democratic Engagement Initiative, CASAA is finding better answers by engaging young people, teachers, school administrators, and relevant non-profit organizations devoted to working with high schools in the creation of meaningful student council models. These new models will, in turn, foster a greater sense of civic engagement among young Canadians by introducing Canadian concepts of representative governance to high school student councils.
Download more information about this project by clicking here.
Leadership training with the Royal Canadian Navy
In an ongoing partnership with the Canadian Navy, CASAA is able to make HMCS Oriole sail training available to 30 students from CASAA member schools across Canada. This is a 4-day leadership experience that is not to be missed. Students pay their own expenses to the port of Victoria and the Navy covers all expenses from there.
Application and information forms are available here for you and your students. Sailing usually happens in the middle of April, and advisor chaperone positions are available each year. Students do not need any sailing experience as the Navy provides all of the training and gear. Your students will not forget this once-in-a-lifetime leadership challenge on a tall ship.
You can read more about this experience by downloading an article from the CASAA newsletter, Above and Beyond, by clicking here.