The Cochrane Youth Council is looking to create the go-to social media hub for teens in town through the launch of their Facebook page What’s Up Cochrane.
“I know a lot of Cochrane kids are on a lot of pages … I think it’s important to have something that’s easy to access,” said 16-year-old Kassidy Gerhardi, youth council member who is entering her senior year at Bow Valley High.
Launched in June, there were 194 page followers by press time for the social media page created “by students and for students.”
Gerhardi said the goal of the site is not to provide a space for teens to complain or be negative – rather a go-to site that would serve as a newsfeed for youth, featuring information on workshops, events, job postings, recreational offerings, deals for teens, resources and to encourage overall community participation.
She said last year, the youth council identified the biggest problem was the lack of community involvement or engagement by town youth. A presentation delivered to council in spring revealed their plan to deal with this was to motivate through social media.
Jason Garagan runs the Safe Coach program through Cochrane Family and Community Support Services.
As the lead on programming that helps connect displaced, troubled and homeless youth to resources to help them through difficult times – Garagan thinks it’s imperative to access youth through their preferred medium of social media.
“I would like to see a platform where we can reach out to youth … I’m very excited that this is up and running, because it’s a central access point of sorts for all youth.”
He also commended Gerhardi – who was the 2017 recipient for Youth of the Year through the Cochrane Community Awards – for taking the lead on administering the Facebook page through the summer months, until council activities ramp back up next month.
For the time being, all posts are published by Gerhardi until increased page activity would bring more page administrators on board.
The Cochrane Youth Council is run through the Boys and Girls Club of Cochrane and Area (BGCCA). Formerly the Mayor’s Youth Council, the BGCCA took over the reins of the youth council last year.
Membership is selected with the help of Cochrane school administrators, for kids in Grade 7 to Grade 12 and community members between ages 13 and 24. Youth must show a passion for community involvement and leadership.
According to Jill Bilodeau, BGCCA director of operations, the council is currently comprised of two council members from each high school and middle school in town; two youth between 13 and 24 years of age as community representatives; and one youth who represents the BGCCA.
Bilodeau said they would like to add a member from each RancheView and Fireside schools this year. Future plans include adding a member of the nearby Morley community and a newcomer youth representative.
