Jesse

Jesse is an 18 year old college student and part time "retail-laborer" in Lethbridge. Aside from being a member of YAP, he has also volunteered his time with the Region 1 Youth Advisory Panel (also known as SYNAP) for the last 3 ½ years. He is interested in giving to others, playing video games, and TV shows like Heroes. He is passionate about the pursuit of reason, knowledge, and equality.

John

As an advocate for youth, John takes every opportunity he can to get involved and make a difference for the youth in his community, our province, and Canada. John has been known to assume many positions that have the ability to impact change. John is entering his 3^rd term as president of the Jr. Rotary Club and has been a member of the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Committee (in Medicine Hat) since 2004. John is very passionate about the political process and has dedicated numerous hours to working on local, provincial, and federal campaigns. John is currently taking Grade 12 at Medicine Hat High School and wishes to attend University to pursue a Bachelor of Political Science and possibly a career in law. John aspires to have a career as an MLA in Alberta and lead a Ministry in the Alberta Government.

Desi-Rae 

Desi-Rae is a vibrant 16 year old whose interests include serving people and God. Once she completes her high school, she plans on pursuing a degree in International Rescue and Relief where she can travel to third world countries to help. She enjoys surfing and is currently learning a second language.

Scott

Scott is 20 years old and recently completed the second year of his Bachelor of Arts degree at Grant MacEwan. He is majoring in Psychology and minoring in Anthropology. He loves art, listening to and playing music (clarinet), as well as reading and writing literature. Originally from a small farm outside of Czar, Scott currently resides in Edmonton for school. He recently accepted a position as a Summer Program Coordinator with the YMCA.  He is passionate about working with youth and leadership. In the future, he hopes to be working for the Government with youth using his current experiences.

Meghan

Meghan is a born and raised Calgarian currently studying at the University of Calgary. She is in her third year of a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a major in Law and Society and a minor in Indigenous Studies. Meghan hopes to continue to Law School, where she can put her passion for poverty law and advocacy into action. She currently works as a respite caregiver working with families who have children with disabilities. She loves to act in community theatre, play field hockey, and hike.

Carlia

Carlia is 19 years old and hails from the beautiful town of Sylvan Lake. She is currently enrolled in her second year of Psychology at Red Deer College. She has been volunteering in and around her community for many years and helped to found a youth group in her church as well as an organization called Kids in Support of Orphaned Children (KISOOC), which has raised tens of thousands of dollars for a Mexican Orphanage. All of Carlia’s hard work has earned her many awards and recognitions, including the Great Kids Award in 2004. She has a great passion for troubled youth and God and hopes to make a change in her community and around the world. She is currently volunteering at the Red Cross and works at her local library.

Brooke

Brooke has too many passions to count, but she has the energy to put 100% into every one! She enjoys working with seniors, the terminally ill, and children. Coming from a large family in Whitecourt, Brooke has all the experience needed! She would like to pursue a career in photography, event planning or journalism, and may even try her hand in the Peace Corps once she completes high school.

Cassie

Cassie comes to us from the Gift Lake Métis Settlement. Although she was residing in Edmonton, she recently returned to Gift Lake to be more in touch with her community. She also had the desire to pursue her passions on a community level, working with youth and young children, recently working at the Gift Lake School as a teacher’s assistant for Grade 1. Cassie sees herself traveling to a foreign country to help refugee youth and make a difference in their communities. Cassie has recently returned to school to begin pursuing her dreams!

Lisa

Lisa is 21 and currently lives in Spruce Grove with her beautiful daughter Maria. This is Lisa’s second year on the Panel.  Her life experience has created a passion for working with youth, and being on the Panel gives her a great opportunity to make a difference for young people all over the province. She is currently attending Grant MacEwan completing her Child and Youth Care diploma.

Karla

Karla also comes to us from the Gift Lake Métis settlement; she is 16 years old and recently completed Grade 11. She would like to make a difference in her home community where she feels more connected to the people. During her summer break, she plans on getting a summer position with Gift Lake Community Services and help to develop more programs in the community for youth of all ages. Karla also has hopes of participating in the Bold Eagle program, which provides aboriginal youth with basic training for the Canadian Armed Forces.

Brandon

Brandon is 17 years old and resides on a farm outside of High Prairie. His passions include giving back to youth in his community and cooking. He has been accepted to study architecture at SAIT, and has aspirations to one day design and open his own restaurant in another country. He is also currently the provincial representative from High Prairie for the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC) Youth Advisory Panel, and a national representative for the National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI).

Amy

Amy is 18 years old and in her first year of Sciences at the University of Alberta. Amy is originally from a farm outside of Vegreville.  She has a passion for science, especially the brain and neurological systems. Amy also enjoys farming, sports, volunteering, and doing anything she can to make a change for the better!  

Fardoussa

Fardoussa is 18 and a proud Concordia College student. After receiving the Great Kids Award in 2007, Fardoussa realized her true passion in life was to use her personal experiences to motivate fellow youth to become more involved in opportunities such as the provincial Youth Advisory Panel. Her personal motto is “We must all hang together or assuredly, we shall all hang separately” – Benjamin Franklin.

Cristian

Cristian is 19 years old and is working very hard during his second year as a Bachelor of Commerce student at the University of Calgary. He is far from home in Calgary, as he moved there from Fort McMurray to complete his studies. As a child, Cristian immigrated to Canada with his family from Romania!  Cristian is passionate about giving youth a voice and improving their lives, which he hopes a career in law will help him accomplish.

Zaheed 

Zaheed was born and raised in Calgary where he is currently a student at the University of Calgary in his third year in the Bachelor of Health Sciences program. At the tender age of 19, Zaheed has declared himself a Calgary Flames fan for life and has discovered a enthusiasm for advocacy of youth issues. Service to others is his passion and source of satisfaction. In addition to being a Panel member, Zaheed enjoys basketball, graphic design, and music.

Brittany

Brittany is 19 years old and grew up on a farm near Claresholm.  She is currently living in Lethbridge while attending the University of Lethbridge's Bachelor of Management program.  Brittany enjoys riding and training horses, organizing events and playing piano.  Her involvement in the 4-H program has strengthened her communication skills and expanded her ability to help youth and adults achieve their goals.  She has discovered the importance of volunteering within her community and is committed to promoting the value of agriculture.  By staying involved with the 4-H program and within her community, Brittany hopes to impact the lives of many youth.