K.C. Jordan, LJI Journalist
The MRC Pontiac’s youth council voted on its new president last week, unanimously naming Allumette Island’s Aidan McCann to the top position.
McCann, a Grade 10 student at Dr. Wilbert Keon High School in Chapeau, was the Allumette Island representative for last year’s council, and after some thought decided to run for president this year.
“I was really surprised. I was going to run for vice, but it’s an awesome thing to happen and I’m going to work really hard,” he said.
The youth council has existed since 2019 and has often included a representative from each of the Pontiac’s 18 municipalities.
McCann’s first orders of business for the council include looking into improving driver’s education in the Pontiac. Until recently, the only driving school in the county was based in Chapeau, but when it closed young drivers were left with few options.
“The Pontiac would be stuck without a driver to do the practicals, so whoever wants to do their licence has to go all the way to Aylmer [ . . . ] It’s kind of hard to take a whole day to go.”
McCann also said he hopes to start an information campaign to educate kids about the dangers of vaping and smoking.
“People have been dismissing it, but it is a very big issue,” he said. “I think a lot of people don’t see that these are still kids, and they shouldn’t be vaping, and I don’t think most of them understand the actual negative effects of vaping.”
McCann, who is interested in political science, said in his new role he hopes to have a positive impact on his community.
“I’d love to be able to say that I helped the community, [ . . . ] that would be amazing. I’d like to say that I helped prepare the other members of the council. I’d like to make a difference.”
Outgoing council president Léa Gagnon, who has been involved with the council for two years, said that’s exactly what the experience allowed her to do – make a difference in the community.
“The best part about being part of the youth council is the ability to make a change,” she said, adding that she has made connections and organized community events.
“It has given me so many great experiences and strengthened my leadership abilities,” she said, adding that she has grown in many ways. “I find myself more able to bring up ideas or issues that arise, no matter what the situation is.”
Gagnon said one of the biggest issues for her in the region is transportation, and said the council is trying to get a mobile app for taxi services around the Pontiac.
“There’s a big lack of transportation networks. We don’t have many taxis or buses available to the public to get from one place to another in the area,” she said. “This prevents many students and adults from getting jobs because they’re too far and there’s no transport.”
McCann, in addition to his driver’s education idea, has other thoughts about what he wants to accomplish, including re-activating the council’s Facebook page, which has been dormant since 2019, and organizing fundraisers for local organizations such as Bouffe Pontiac.