The Rural Municipality of Ritchot has added a youth member to its council. Sixteen-year-old Alexie Lepage from St. Adolphe attended her first meeting last week and will be part of council until next June.

"I think she's going to be a great addition to the team," says Mayor Chris Ewen.

Lepage will be allowed to sit in on meetings but will have no voting power.

"We can always listen to her during our debate and our discussion and get her input, which I think is very important," says Ewen. "We see a different angle and a different view on everything that we talk about with her."

Ewen says it is his belief that if he understood politics at a younger age, he would have become involved earlier in life. And he says it is the younger generations that have the out-of-the-box ideas needed to change the vision of a community and municipality.

"They're not always a bad vision, but they can really stretch our imagination to something that would just be a great and different kind of municipality," adds Ewen.

He says whether it be technology or green efficiency, the younger generation has ideas.

Ewen admits Ritchot has had some heated public hearings in the past and he is hopeful ratepayers will treat their youth member with respect. He says not only will it be a good experience for Lepage to be part of these public hearings but it will also be a great opportunity for the public to have her take part.

"I'm excited," says Ewen. "I really don't know what the outcome will be."

Lepage says she doesn't know whether politics is in her future, but says this opportunity might give her more insight.

"I'm excited to see how the government works a little bit more," she says. "I really want to get involved in the community and I think this is the perfect opportunity for that."

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