Forum for Young Canadians brings students from across the country to Carleton for an up-close look at Canadian government.
More than 100 high school students from across Canada had a rare opportunity to meet a veteran political staffer recently–Jennifer Robson of Carleton’s Master of Political Management program—who spent more than two decades working in the top echelons of Canadian politics.
“The single most valuable thing that a politician has is their time. [They] never have enough time or attention: they always have somebody asking them for something,” said Robson, who described the culture of political offices while leading an exercise in writing a briefing memo.
“A good memo doesn’t waste time. It cuts right to the point and really grabs the attention of the reader.”
Robson, along with Professor Mira Sucharov of Political Science and Instructor Elana Aptowitzer of Kroeger College, led sessions at the annual Forum for Young Canadians. It teaches youth about Canadian government, politics, and political communication.
The program aims to deepen the participants’ understanding of the decision-making process, but it’s also an opportunity to share ideas, network, and discuss issues with Parliamentarians. (Read more about the program at forum.ca)
This year was the first time that sessions have been held on the Carleton campus, but the university has many links with the program. Not only do Carleton faculty members share their knowledge with youth, but past participants in the program now study at Carleton.
“The Forum for Young Canadians really shone a light on governmental structure in Ottawa, and it opened my eyes about how government works,” said Yavuz Topbas, a first-year student from North York, Ontario, who chose to study at Carleton after participating in the Forum for Young Canadians in 2019.
“We got to connect with MPs, and do things that your average student doesn’t always get to do. It made me realize what Ottawa — and by extension Carleton – has to offer. It was like I joined the system for a week. After coming to Ottawa, and seeing how government works, seeing it from the inside and seeing the opportunities, it allowed me to say that Carleton is the best choice for me.”
For the Faculty of Public Affairs, hosting students interested in Canadian government reflects its mission to help foster informed citizenship and prepare future leaders to build a better society, as well as address regional and global challenges. The gathering also allows the Faculty to showcase its relationship with Canada’s federal government.
“So many of our students are doing co-ops, internships, and working on Parliament Hill or in the federal public service,” said Christina Gabriel, Associate Dean for Students and Enrolment. “At the same time, our faculty members serve as advisors in the highest levels of government, while many of our instructors are engaged in politics and government.”
While Carleton offers unparalleled access to the inner workings of the Canadian government, that exposure is supported by a rigorous education in relevant subjects such as Law and Legal Studies, Political Science, Public Affairs and Policy Management, Global and International Studies, Criminology, Journalism, Communication, and Economics.
“If they take a program within the Faculty of Public Affairs, they won’t only learn about theories, current issues or policies, but also the mechanics of politics or public life. They learn by doing,” explained Gabriel. “The Forum for Young Canadians enabled us to make high school students aware of the different programs we offer, and how they tie into public and political life of Canada. It’s what we call the Carleton advantage.”
