It is often a case where society, on a general scale, looks at the youth of the day and laments the future.
Throughout the decades, pool rooms, video arcades, and online gaming have all been accused of turning our youth into virtual zombies, putting the future at risk.
But when we pause to look past the old clichés, what we find is that many young people are already very involved in creating a better community for everyone.
That reality was brought into focus again this week as we learned students at Yorkton Regional High School are taking over hosting the annual Terry Fox Run in the city.
The run has been part of our community for nearly 40 years, part of a Canada wide fundraising effort for cancer research, but locally was in jeopardy of not happening in 2018 because of the lack of a volunteer organizer. When it was learned the run might not happen in the city, the school and students stepped up to take leadership ensuring the run will happen this Sunday.
Of course, being in support of local cancer research efforts is not new for Yorkton youth. Through the years, many have been part of the Close Cuts initiative, cutting their hair as a way to raise awareness of the need to continue supporting efforts to battle cancer. This year Derek Kienle took part when his father decided to cut off his hair. Derek raised nearly $2000 for the program.
Youth involvement in the city is, of course, more than supporting cancer initiatives.
This spring, students at YRHS launched a tiny library. The small box on school property is a place anyone in the community can visit to take or leave a book for others to enjoy. It was a simple undertaking, but it also shared the gift of reading with others.
And come November, youth involved with the army, air, and sea cadets will be out selling poppies around our city. The annual poppy campaign is a key fundraising effort for the Royal Canadian Legion, as well as helping the community remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to ensure the freedoms we often take for granted in Canada.
The list of such projects undertaken by youth is a lengthy one. Groups have picked garbage on our highways, helped raise funds through in-school projects for Telemiracle, and food for the annual FCC Drive Hunger Away program.
When good work is needed, our youth are ready to step in and help. Our future should be just fine.
