Alberta Youth Parliament

Last updated
Alberta Youth Parliament
Formation1920
FounderTaylor Statten
HeadquartersEdmonton Alberta
Premier
Sarah Clark
Leader of the Opposition
Ajminder Sanghotra
Deputy Premier
Kaydence Gillespie
Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Daniel Zander
TUXIS PARLIAMENTARY ALUMNI SOCIETY OF ALBERTA
Affiliations Western Canada Youth Parliament
Website www.abyp.ca
Formerly called
Tuxis Parliament of Alberta

The Alberta Youth Parliament (AYP) is one of a number of provincial model youth parliaments that has its origins in the "boys work" movement of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It is the oldest youth parliament in Alberta, and the longest continuously operating youth parliament in Canada. Its flagship session occurs every December in the Alberta Legislature, and it hosts a variety of smaller events throughout each year. It is open to all youths in Alberta who are between the ages of 15-21.

Contents

Overview

The central focus of the organization is its parliamentary program. The main parliamentary session occurs during the last week of December in the Alberta Legislature. [1] Throughout each year, the parliament organizes events such as public speaking and debate, community service, and social events. [2] The cabinet also meets throughout the year to plan events, discuss the operations of the parliament, and prepare for the annual winter session. [2]

The parliament's goals have evolved from the TUXIS "four-fold" program to develop the mental, physical, social and spiritual well-being of its members and all youth. AYP is a non-denominational spiritual youth Parliament [3] which recently reaffirmed its non-exclusionary spiritual foundation. It believes that exposure to different points of view encourages tolerance of varying interpretations of religion, faith, and spirituality.

Activities

AYP holds an annual session from December 26 to 31. [4] The focus of session is the parliamentary sittings where the members learn parliamentary procedure and debate legislation on topics of interest. [4] In addition to the parliamentary procedure and debating activities, members attending the annual session participate in various social action and devotional events.

The parliament hosts smaller events throughout the year that are tailored towards aspects such as public speaking and debate, and community service. [2] It also partakes in a miniature session every May Long Weekend. [2] Every second year, the four western Canadian youth parliaments participate in a joint-mini session which is hosted on a rotating basis. [2] In its off-years, AYP hosts a normal mini-session. [2]

AYP is a founding member of the Western Canada Youth Parliament. [5] It was also a founding member and participant in the now-defunct Youth Parliament of Canada/Parlement jeunesse du Canada. [6]

Organizational structure

The Executive Committee consists of the Premier, the Leader of the Opposition, the Deputy Premier, and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition (formerly known as the Alternate Leader of the Opposition). [7] They are elected at Session by the members of the parliament and serve a one-year term. The Executive Committee is colloquially referred to as the "Front Four" and they run the parliament by appointing the Front Bench: Ministers for the Cabinet and Deputies for the Shadow Cabinet. [7] The current Executive Committee, elected at the 102nd Session, is Sarah Clark as Premier, Ajminder Sanghotra as Leader of the Opposition, Kaydence Gillespie as Deputy Premier, and Daniel Zander as Deputy Leader of the Opposition. [7]

The current Front Bench is: [7]

Cabinet:

History

The first Session of the Older Boys' Parliament of Alberta was first held in the Legislative Chamber of the Provincial Government in Edmonton, from December 28 to 30, 1920. The Mayor of Edmonton, D.M. Duggan, acted as lieutenant governor. Armour Ford was elected as the first Speaker. The first Premier was Edward Hunter Gowan. The Leader of the Opposition was James Robin Davidson. [8]

Like many of the other Canadian Youth Parliaments, AYP was sponsored by the Boys' Work Board of the provincial Religious Education Council (“REC”). [8] AYP originally met under the name “Alberta Older Boy's Parliament”. The Alberta Older Boy's Parliament added “TUXIS” to its name in 1932. [9] “TUXIS” stands for “Training for Service, with Christ (represented with an 'X' for the Greek letter 'chi') in the center, and you and I on either side, with no-one but Christ between us”. [9] An alternative interpretation is "Training Under Christ In Service."

It was the last of these youth parliaments to retain its “TUXIS” appellation and maintain its Christian character, but has since become a spiritual, but non-denominational organization. [9] The REC was a coalition of religious organizations, the most significant of which was the United Church). The REC of Alberta ceased to exist in 1962. [8] As a result, the TUXIS and Older Boy's Parliament of Alberta Alumni Society was formed. The members of this Society now provide sponsorship, including financial backing and continuity, of TUXIS. [8]

The 60th Session of the Parliament approved a resolution inviting young women to attend the Parliament and share in the companionship of TUXIS. This same year also approved a resolution to change the name from "TUXIS and Older Boys' Parliament of Alberta" to "TUXIS Parliament of Alberta." [8] Young women first attended the 62nd Session in 1981 [6] at Red Deer and soon entered into the leadership when LaVonne Rosvick was elected Premier for the 67th Session. [8]

The parliament celebrated its 100th Session in 2019, and its 100th anniversary in 2020; the latter Session was conducted virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [1] Unlike most other Canadian Youth Parliaments founded during the same time, AYP met continuously throughout the Great Depression and World War II. As a result, AYP has the longest uninterrupted history of annual sessions of any youth parliament in Canada. [10] The TUXIS Parliament of Alberta voted to change its operating name to the Alberta Youth Parliament during its 102nd Session in December 2022, and the change was ratified by the Alumni Council on March 20, 2022. [11]

Notable alumni

See also

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  2. Lieutenant Governor of Alberta: Her Honour the Honourable Salma Lakhani
  3. Premier of Alberta: The Honourable Danielle Smith
  4. The Chief Justice of The Court of Appeal of Alberta: The Honourable Justice Frans Slatter
  5. Former lieutenant governors of Alberta
    1. The Honourable Donald Ethell
    2. The Honourable Lois Mitchell
  6. Former premiers of Alberta
    1. The Honourable Ed Stelmach
    2. The Honourable Alison Redford
    3. The Honourable Dave Hancock
    4. The Honourable Rachel Notley
    5. The Honourable Jason Kenney
  7. Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta: Nathan Cooper
  8. Ambassadors and high commissioners accredited to Canada
  9. Members of the Executive Council of Alberta, in relative order of precedence as determined by the premier
  10. Leader of the Official Opposition: Rachel Notley
  11. Current members of the King's Privy Council for Canada resident in Alberta, with precedence given to current members of the federal cabinet
  12. Members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta with precedence governed by the date of their first election to the Legislature
  13. Members of the Senate of Canada, who represent Alberta by date of appointment
    1. The Honourable Douglas Black
    2. The Honourable Scott Tannas
    3. The Honourable Patti LaBoucane-Benson
    4. The Honourable Paula Simons
  14. Members of the House of Commons of Canada who represent Alberta constituencies by date of election
  15. Superior court justices
    1. Chief Justice of the Court of King's Bench of Alberta: The Honourable Justice M.T. Moreau
    2. Justices of the Court of Appeal of Alberta
    3. Justices of the Court of King's Bench of Alberta
  16. Heads of religious denominations
  17. Heads of consular posts: consuls-general; consuls; vice-consuls; consular agents
  18. Judges of the Provincial Court of Alberta
    1. Chief Judge of the Provincial Court of Alberta
    2. Other judges by seniority of appointment
  19. Mayors of Alberta municipalities
  20. Aboriginal Leaders
    1. Chiefs of the Treaty First Nations in Alberta, in order of seniority of election to office;
    2. President of Métis Settlements General Council
    3. President of Métis Nation of Alberta: Audrey Poitras
  21. Deputy Minister to the Premier and Cabinet Secretary
  22. Clerk of the Legislative Assembly
  23. Ombudsman
  24. Provincial Auditor
  25. Chief Electoral Officer: Glen Resler
  26. Ethics Commissioner: Marguerite Trussler
  27. Information and Privacy Commissioner: Jill Clayton
  28. Deputy Ministers
  29. Senior Alberta government officials with rank of Deputy Minister as determined by the Executive Council
  30. Chief executive officers of Crown corporations
  31. Leadership of Alberta universities
    1. Chancellor of the University of Alberta: Ralph B. Young
    2. Chancellor of the University of Calgary: Jim Dinning
    3. Chancellor of the University of Lethbridge: Shirley McClellan
    4. Chairman of the Board, University of Alberta
    5. Chairman of the Board, University of Calgary
    6. Chairman of the Board, University of Lethbridge
    7. Chairman of the Board, Athabasca University
    8. Chairman of the Board, Mount Royal University
    9. Chairman of the Board, MacEwan University
    10. President of the University of Alberta: David H. Turpin
    11. President of the University of Calgary: Ed McCauley
    12. President of the University of Lethbridge: Michael J. Mahon
    13. President of Athabasca University: Frits Pannekoek
    14. President of Mount Royal University: David Docherty
    15. President of Grant MacEwan University: David W. Atkinson
  32. Police and military
    1. Commanding Officer, "K" Division, Royal Canadian Mounted Police: Curtis Zablocki
    2. Commander, 3rd Canadian Division: Brigadier-General W.H. Fletcher
    3. Commanding Officer, HMCS Nonsuch
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References

  1. 1 2 "Alberta's youth parliament marks 101st year but COVID-19 alters it to online". edmontonjournal. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Events | TUXIS Parliament of Alberta | Canada". TUXIS Parliament. Retrieved 2019-03-17.
  3. ↑ "About | TUXIS Parliament of Alberta | Canada". TUXIS Parliament. Retrieved 2019-03-17.
  4. 1 2 "Session | TUXIS Parliament of Alberta | Canada". TUXIS Parliament. Retrieved 2019-05-14.
  5. ↑ "Western Canada Youth Parliament | TUXIS Parliament of Alberta | Canada". TUXIS Parliament. Retrieved 2019-05-14.
  6. 1 2 "Canadian Parliamentary Review - Article".
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Our Leaders". TUXIS Parliament. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "History | TUXIS Parliament of Alberta | Canada". TUXIS Parliament. Retrieved 2019-05-14.
  9. 1 2 3 "About | TUXIS Parliament of Alberta | Canada". TUXIS Parliament. Retrieved 2019-03-17.
  10. ↑ "Alberta's oldest youth parliament celebrates 100 years of training leaders |". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved 2019-07-14.
  11. ↑ "About". Alberta Youth Parliament. Retrieved 2022-03-21.
  12. 1 2 3 4 http://www.meridianbooster.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?archive=true&e=1369015 [ dead link ]
  13. ↑ "Cabinet changes show focus on economic diversification, supporting job growth".
  14. ↑ "Legislative Assembly of Alberta".
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