Youth Parliament of Manitoba

Formation|

* Founded: 1922; 102 years ago (1922)
* Incorporated: August 22, 1984; 40 years ago (1984-08-22)[1]

Legal status| Registered charity

Board of directors

* Xiao Zhang (Chairperson)
* Josephine Zhao (Past Chairperson)
* Charlize Medina (Director of Finance)
* Madison Jones (Vice-Chairperson)
* Jourmae Abengoza (Director of Procedures)

Website| https://www.ypmanitoba.ca

Formerly called

* Older Boys' TUXIS Parliament of Manitoba (1922–1960)
* Older Boys' Parliament of Manitoba (1960–1972)
* Youth Parliament of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario (1972–2003)

Youth Parliament of Manitoba Inc. (YPM) is a non-partisan, non-denominational, and incorporated registered charity[2][3] based in Manitoba, Canada.

Its mission is "to foster amongst the youth of Manitoba an understanding of, interest in, and engagement with the Canadian democratic parliamentary process that would enable their active participation in society as responsible citizens. In so doing, YPM strives to encourage the growth of the individual and their abilities through their exposure to a diversity of ideas and perspectives and the fellowship of their peers."

## Activities

[edit]

YPM's flagship event is Session, an annual model parliament that takes place from December 26 to 31 each year at the Manitoba Legislature open to all Manitoban youth aged 16 to 20. During Session, participants ("members") debate mock legislation according to parliamentary procedure as per YPM's Standing Orders.[4] Throughout the week, members also have the opportunity to meet current and former politicians from the Manitoba Legislature and the House of Commons, partake in workshops, and socialize with fellow youth from across the province.

Every summer, YPM hosts Speaker's Night, its premier fundraising gala. Proceeds go towards supporting YPM's programming, financial aid capabilities, and operating costs. Recent keynote speakers have included Dr. Annette Trimbee, Susan Thompson, Senator Marilou McPhedran, Dr. Aimée Craft, and Wab Kinew.[5]

YPM is a founding member of the Western Canada Youth Parliament and current Member Parliament of its successor, Canada Youth Parliament. In this capacity, it assists in the organization of, and nominates delegates to, the biennial Canada Youth Parliament.

## History

[edit]

In 1922, George Stewart, Lieutenant Governor of the Older Boys’ TUXIS Parliament of Manitoba, opened the first of a long line of annual sessions devoted to the development of leadership and awareness of the parliamentary system among the young men (and later, women) of Manitoba. It has since become one of the oldest Youth Parliaments in a network of similar organizations stretching across the country and the world. Although each of these Parliaments has a unique style and emphasis, all are based on the same basic principle of fostering knowledge of the parliamentary system amongst Canadian youth.

The Older Boys’ Parliament program began in Ontario as part of the TUXIS (“Training Under Christ In Service”) movement. Its original sponsors included various Protestant churches, such as the United Church of Canada, the Anglican, Baptist, Presbyterian, and Lutheran churches, the Salvation Army, and a variety of service groups such as the YMCA, De Molay and Kiwanis organizations. The movement's goal was to foster the development of the physical, mental, spiritual and social well-being of the person as inspired by the biblical passage Luke 2:52, which reads: “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favour.” YPs, only one of many TUXIS activities, were designed for religious as well as parliamentary training. Though most YPs were at one time part of the TUXIS movement, only the TUXIS Youth Parliament of Alberta retains the name to this day.

In 1960, “TUXIS” was dropped from the name, leaving “Older Boys’ Parliament.” In 1968, it was decided that YPM would expand its focus by becoming open to youth from non-Protestant backgrounds, thereby becoming non-denominational. This meant that the Oath of Allegiance and the legislation placed before the house was no longer written for specific religious groups and with specifically religious purposes in mind.

On December 28, 1972, a special meeting of the organization was held to officially admit women as full members and to change the organization’s name to Youth Parliament of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario (YPMNO). Previously, female members had for some years been allowed to attend session but only as associate members who did not hold the right to vote on the matters debated in the house. Seven years later, Ann Thompson became the first female Premier of YPMNO.

In celebration of its 60th anniversary in 1981, YPMNO hosted a first-of-its-kind invitational session for all YPs in Western Canada. Two years later, the Western Canada Youth Parliament (WCYP) was officially formed, with its second session being hosted again in Winnipeg in the chambers of City Council. Our organization has since hosted WCYP on three other occasions, in 1993, 2002 and most recently in 2010.

The organization successfully incorporated in 1984 and gained full charitable status. In 2003, the organization voted to shorten its name to Youth Parliament of Manitoba (YPM).

In 2007, YPM hosted its first annual Spring Session in Manitoba. In 2008, YPM hosted its first annual Speaker’s Night fundraising dinner. In 2019, it elected its first all-female Executive. In 2021, it celebrated its 100th annual Session.

## Past Premiers[6]

[edit]

Year  | Parliament  | Premier  | Lieutenant Governor

|
|
|

1922  | 1  | E.A. Armstrong  | George H. Stewart
1923  | 2  | Erie L. Jackson  | John Martin
1924  | 3  | Frank Fidler  | J. H. Dowler
1925  | 4  | Darwin Chase  | R. G. Taylor
1926  | 5  | John Gilmer  | The Hon. F. M. Black
1927  | 6  | John Gilmer  | Judge F. A. E. Hamilton
1928  | 7  | John Dunderdale  | J. L. Bathgate
1929  | 8  | William Moore Benidickson | Dr. John Mackay
1930  | 9  | Vivian M. Rogers  | Prof. Watson Kirkconnell
1931  | 10  | Mervyn Sprung  | Magistrate R. B. Graham
1932  | 11  | Donald Ross  | C. R. Sayer
1933  | 12  | George S. Thurton  | Canon H. G. G. Herkots
1934  | 13  | Joseph Benson  | Rev. J. W. Clarke
1935  | 14  | James M Taylor  | Rev. J. W. Little
1936  | 15  | J. S. McArdle  | B. V. Richardson
1937  | 16  | Donald L. Mackay  | C. E. Stockdill
1938  | 17  | Wilson Milne  | C. N. Halstead
1939  | 18  | Raymond Threson  | E. J. J. Glenesk
1940  | 19  | Frederick Tallman  | The Hon. Sidney Earle Smith, P.C.
1941  | 20  | Aitken Harvey  | A. C. Campbell
1942  | 21  | Frederick Bickell  | Prof. A.. R. Cragg
1943  | 22  | Maurice Helston  | Rev. George A. MacMillan
1944  | 23  | Lynn Watt  | Dr. Robert Fletcher
1945  | 24  | Thomas Goulding  | The Hon. D. C. McKenzie
1946  | 25  | Garth Campbell  | Arch. J. Barr
1947  | 26  | Robert H. Johnson  | John A. M. Edwards
1948  | 27  | William Norrie | E. H. Morgan
1949  | 28  | J. A. C. Magee  | C. H. P. Killick
1950  | 29  | Doug Mauchlan  | Prof. R. Fletcher
1951  | 30  | Alan G. Gardiner  | Dr. W. C. Graham
1952  | 31  | Harry T. Makin  | Nelson Mc Ewen
1953  | 32  | Victor Mearon  | Mayor N. J. Black
1954  | 33  | Robert A. Steen | Canon L. F. Wilmont
1955  | 34  | Lawrie Smith  | H. L. Mackinnon
1956  | 35  | Waldron Fox-Decent | Dr. W. C. Lockhart
1957  | 36  | Don King  | C. G. Carter
1958  | 37  | Graeme Garson  | T. M. Miller
1959  | 38  | Doug McEwan  | Dr. H. H. Saunderson
1960  | 39  | Lloyd Axworthy | Dr. Earl J. Treusch
1961  | 40  | Mike Quiggin  | D. L. Campbell
1962  | 41  | Denis Corrie  | Prof. W. L. Morton
1963  | 42  | Bruce Doern  | The Hon. Stanley H. Knowles, P.C.
1964  | 43  | Neil Gailbraith  | Rev. J. O. Anderson
1965  | 44  | Gary Scherbain  | The Hon. Errick Willis
1966  | 45  | Jim Lightbody  | Dr. D. B. Macdonald
1967  | 46  | Hugh Stephens  | Bishop Antoine Hacault
1968  | 47  | Tom Axworthy | Magistrate Isaac Rice
1969  | 48  | Philip Reece  | Dr. George Johnson
1970  | 49  | Bob Williamson  | Dean C. Edwards
1971  | 50  | John Romanow  | Charles Hubband
1972  | 51  | Ron Miller  | Rev. D. O. Reece
1973  | 52  | Laurie Swardfager  | Juiles Koteles
1974  | 53  | Paul DuVal  | Dr. Ben Hog
1975  | 54  | Chris Guest  | Muriel Smith
1976  | 55  | Andrew Treusch  | Judge Peter Teraska
1977  | 56  | Gordon Du Val  | The Rt. Hon. Edward Schreyer,
P.C., C.C., C.M.M., O.M., C.D.
1978  | 57  | Dave Najduch  | Paul DuVal, Sr.
1979  | 58  | Ann Thompson  | The Hon. Lloyd Axworthy, P.C., O.C., O.M., Norman Axworthy
1980  | 59  | Ian Manson  | Olga Fuga
1981  | 60  | Darren Praznik | Judge Graeme Carson
1982  | 61  | Jim Bell  | Dr. Carl Ridd
1983  | 62  | Bruce Johannson  | The Hon. Gildas Molgat, P.C.
1984  | 63  | Dmytro Dutka  | William Norrie, C.M., O.M., Q.C.
1985  | 64  | Patricia Chaychuk  | Hon. William Blakie, P.C., M.P.
1986  | 65  | Erminia Pallone  | Gary Filmon
1987  | 66  | Nasir Faruqui  | The Hon. Sharon Carstairs, P.C.
1988  | 67  | Glen Hickerson  | Prof. Jack London, Q.C.
1989  | 68  | Sean Crick  | Howard Pawley, P.C. Q.C.
1990  | 69  | Michelle Elvers-Crick  | The Hon. Murray Sinclair
1991  | 70  | James Muir  | Waldron Fox-Decent, C.M., C.M.M., O.M., C.D.
1992  | 71  | Christine Barnson  | Gary Doer
1993  | 72  | J.P. Lapointe  | Terry Duguid
1994  | 73  | Mark Matz  | Philip Weiss
1995  | 74  | Cindy Fleury  | Bruce C. Daniels
1996  | 75  | Darcy Rollins  | Dr. Robert J. Young
1997  | 76  | Nichole Cyr  | Richard Cloutier
1998  | 77  | Ken Yost  | Darren Praznik
1999  | 78  | Alan Fehr  | Prof. Donald Bailey
2000  | 79  | Donna Chanas  | John Perry
2001  | 80  | Mercedes Alcock  | Patricia Chaychuck
2002  | 81  | Micah Melnyk  | Ann Thompson
2003  | 82  | Michael Feuerstein  | Erminia Johannson
2004  | 83  | Carlee-ann Dueck  | Philip Reece
2005  | 84  | Michael Urban  | Dave Najduch
2006  | 85  | Dana Gregoire  | Bob Haverluck
2007  | 86  | Katie Szilagyi  | Dr. Bruce W. Warner
2008  | 87  | Amy Dhillon  | Mark Matz
2009  | 88  | Jennifer Pawluk  | Andrew Treusch
2010  | 89  | Darcy Vermeulen  | Ruth Wilson
2011  | 90  | Darren Haber  | Darcy Rollins
2012  | 91  | Bojan Pirnat  | Donna Chanas
2013  | 92  | Andrew Jones  | Muriel Smith
2014  | 93  | Brent Hardy  | Sachit Mehra
2015  | 94  | Kamal Dhillon  | Clif Evans
2016  | 95  | Joseph Broda  | Dr. Kristel van Ineveld
2017  | 96  | Ariel Melamedoff  | Paulo Fernandes
2018  | 97  | Adrienne Tessier  | Dr. Aimée Craft
2019  | 98  | Deborah Tsao  | Amy Dhillon
2020  | 99  | Abigaïl Theano-Pudwill  | Stuart Olmstead
2021  | 100  | Nina Lam  | Dr. Brent Roussin
2022  | 101  | Jacob Harvey  | The Hon. Murray Sinclair
2023  | 102  | Josephine Zhao  | Dr. Katie Szilagyi
2024  | 103  | Xiao Zhang  | Alicia Dueck-Read

## Organizational structure

[edit]

YPM bases its organizational structure and nomenclature on the Westminster parliamentary system. The membership structure of YPM is made up of three main components: the Executive, the Cabinet, and Backbenchers. All members of YPM are between the ages of 16 and 25.

### Executive

[edit]

Youth Parliament of Manitoba Inc. is governed by a five-person Executive, who legally function as the corporation's board of directors. Each person is elected for a one-year term by and from the membership on the last day of Session. All directors are volunteers between the ages of 18 and 25. The positions on the board are:

* the Past-Chairperson (Speaker),
* the Chairperson (Premier),
* the Director of Finance (Deputy Speaker),
* the Vice-Chairperson (Deputy Premier), and
* the Director of Procedures (House Leader).

### Cabinet

[edit]

The Cabinet is YPM's volunteer organizing committee, appointed by the Executive from the members (attendees) of the previous Session. The Cabinet assists the Executive in organizing and holding Session. Current Cabinet portfolios include:

* Ministry of Alumni Affairs
* Ministry of Communications
* Ministry of Defence
* Ministry of External Affairs
* Ministry of Government Services
* Ministry of Human Resources
* Ministry of Internal Affairs
* Ministry of Labour
* Ministry of Publications
* Ministry of Public Relations
* Ministry of Revenue
* Ministry of Supply and Service
* Registrar General
* Whips (Armstrong and Thompson)

### Backbenchers

[edit]

All non-Executive and non-Cabinet members of YPM sit as Backbenchers during Session.

## Dignitaries

[edit]

### Lieutenant governor

[edit]

Each year, the board of directors invites a distinguished member of the community (in recent years, often a former member) to act as the lieutenant governor (LG). The LG officially opens and prorogues the session, reads the Speech from the Throne, and makes a brief presentation to the membership.

### Honorary president

[edit]

The honorary president (HP) is a prominent citizen of Manitoba who serves as an advisor for the organization. At Session, they attend the opening and closing ceremonies.

### Traditional Knowledge Keeper

[edit]

The Traditional Knowledge Keeper advises the organization on reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in Manitoba. At Session, they conduct a traditional Indigenous teaching on the first and last days.

## Notable alumni

[edit]

Many of YPM's past members have gone on to successful careers in a variety of fields. Some of the organization's prominent past members include:

* Lloyd Axworthy (former Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, former president and vice-chancellor of the University of Winnipeg)
* Bill Norrie (former Mayor of Winnipeg)
* Tom Axworthy (principal secretary to Pierre Trudeau from 1981 to 1984)
* Robert Steen (former Mayor of Winnipeg)
* Wally Fox-Decent (former chair of the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba)

By decision of the Board, former members of YPM who have made outstanding contributions to the organization are eligible to be appointed to the organization's Senate.

## See also

[edit]

* Parlement jeunesse franco-manitobain
* Youth Parliament of Canada/Parlement jeunesse du Canada

## External links

[edit]

* Youth Parliament of Manitoba website

1. ^ "Articles of Incorporation" (PDF). Retrieved 2021-04-21.
2. ^ "About". Youth Parliament of Manitoba. 2010-12-17. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
3. ^ "T3010 Registered Charity Information Return". apps.cra-arc.gc.ca. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
4. ^ "Governance". Youth Parliament of Manitoba. 2021-04-27. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
5. ^ "Speaker's Night". Youth Parliament of Manitoba. 2021-04-27. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
6. ^ "Past Premiers". Youth Parliament of Manitoba. 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2021-04-21.