Seeing through teen eyes

Two Vernon Community School students are on a mission to build better relationships with seniors throughout the community. 

The Grade 11 students feel that there is a disconnect between Vernon's youth and elders. 

"We're trying to figure out how we can connect ourselves to older generations like the elderly, even people that are anywhere from 30, 40," said Mason Marquardt, Grade 11 Vernon Community School student. "[We're] just trying to connect the youth with the city more, to get the youth out there and involved because I don't think there is enough of that." 

The project stemmed from their school classroom when their teacher asked them, what are issues in Vernon you would like to see changed? 

"So far we have gotten a lot of really good and different feedback," said Carson Armitage, Grade 11 Vernon Community School student. "We actually started with Mel Arnold and he had a very interesting point of view." 

"Communication is so important," said North Okanagan-Shuswap MP Mel Arnold. "It doesn't matter whether it's in marriage, business partnership or between our young people and our seniors."

"If you start communicating if there are little ways of doing that I think you've done a good part in that today by getting out yourself and talking to people in the community." 

Instantly the two knew that they didn't feel comfortable with many elders and they didn't feel elders were comfortable around them either.

"I think it's very important that the youth are actually getting out there more and expressing their opinions because I know there is a lot of adults that are trying to advocate for the children," Armitage said.

"Show that you're here for a good positive reason," said Dan Maclachlan, Okanagan Skate CO. "You're here to change the community not just be a part of it." 

The community-focused project is one of many in the works at the Vernon Community School.