3 student-led motions unanimously approved by Saanich council

A group of Saanich high school students have made an impact on local government.

During this week’s meeting, Saanich Council unanimously passed three motions which originated from the student youth council (SYC). 

The SYC is a community-led pilot project which provides young people in Saanich with a hands-on learning experience in matters of local government, and allows participants to bring their concerns and solutions forward to decision-makers.

“Student Youth Council has been the focus of the last year for me,”  said Gus Kirby, Claremont Secondary School student and SYC member.

“Within the year I have learned countless important lessons about government operations, my own community and the lives of my peers as a resident of Saanich. Learning about how I can impact those in my community has shaped my understanding of who I am and what it means to be a community.”

This was the first year of the program, which ultimately resulted in three SYC motions being brought before Saanich council. All three were unanimously approved. 

The first motion sought the establishment of a permanent youth advisory committee. 

For this motion, the SYC provided council with a report showing the work they completed during the pilot term, including meetings, learning activities, peer engagement, survey work, policy discussions, advocacy training, correspondence and the development of motions.

This report flagged the need for greater youth engagement in Saanich and proposed a permanent youth advisory committee as the solution. 

According to the District, current advisory committees do have spots reserved for youth, but the positions are often vacant due to lack of awareness. 

The second motion called on council to endorse the Reconciliation Corridor Initiative (RCI) process, in principle. 

The RCI seeks to explore the potential for passenger rail service on the Island Corridor between Vic West and Langford. The process itself, which the SYC and council endorsed, would be focused on due diligence, reconciliation, mutual benefit and evidence-based decision-making. 

Though this rail corridor does not travel directly through Saanich, SYC members identified the issue as regionally relevant because young people in Saanich travel across municipal boundaries for school, work, recreation, family, appointments and community life.

The third motion sought free access to transit for all youth in Saanich. 

In this motion, the SYC called on the mayor to write to the premier and relevant provincial ministers to expand the Get On Board Program in order to cover young people up to and including the age of 18. 

Furthermore, this motion would see the District call on the Ministry of Education and Child Care to add curriculum elements that train young people on how to safely and confidently use public transit. 

The SYC is comprised of representatives from most high schools in the District of Saanich. 

The group met regularly since November 2025 to explore issues and priorities affecting young people in the District. 

“This has been a remarkable group of young people to work with,” said Teale Phelps Bondaroff, SYC community organizer and Saanich councillor. 

“The members of the Student Youth Council have shown dedication, passion and a genuine commitment to improving their community. They were so committed to the work that they voted to double the number of meetings this year so they could learn more and get more done.” 

As of this publication, the SYC’s 2025-26 pilot term has ended. 

It will be up to the next council to decide whether to continue the program and set up a permanent youth advisory committee, following the upcoming local election on October 17th.