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MP Justin Trudeau says youth not given chance to make a difference

Posted By Mark Hoult Community Press

Mark Hoult

Community Press

Campbellford — Only one in five people between 18 and 25 voted in the last federal election, a statistic that makes many concerned adults level charges of apathy and disengagement against young people.

Papineau MP Justin Trudeau is not one of them.

The Liberal party’s official critic for youth and multiculturalism says if today’s young people appear cynical, apathetic and disconnected it’s not because they don’t care about the world. It’s because “they care so much that they are deeply frustrated that they aren’t given the tools to shape the world they want to see.”

Trudeau, who was a teacher and community activist before entering politics, said he has first-hand knowledge of the generation that is growing up in today’s world.

“They are incredibly well informed, incredibly aware and incredibly idealistic about the world they want to live in,” he said.

Youth today are more engaged than ever before in their schools and communities, Trudeau told a room full of community volunteers Wednesday at Campbellford-Brighton Community Living in Campbellford. But they are not particularly interested in mainstream politics or mainstream media, and they don’t fixate on issues such as H1N1, he said. Instead, young people are worried about the environment, poverty and the starvation of children in Africa. And they are worried about what the world will be like in 50 years.

“That for me demonstrates that there is a generation coming that is passionate about making the world a better place,” Trudeau said. “And when the establishment starts to make a place for them, and empower them, and bring them in, then everything becomes possible.”

Getting young people involved in their communities and in politics is not simply a nice idea, it’s “a means to an end,” he said.

It’s a way to make sure people will have the capacity to meet the world’s challenges with “confidence and dynamic energy.”

Mark Hoult

Community Press

Campbellford — The “huge challenges” facing Canada will be met with the help of engaged citizens of all ages working at the neighbourhood and community level, says Papineau MP Justin Trudeau.

“For me the solutions will not come simply from the top down,” Trudeau told local community volunteers gathered in the Acorn Room of Community Living Campbellford-Brighton Wednesday.

Politicians, “no matter how smart,” will be unable to make significant changes in the world “unless they have the full engagement and participation of citizens,” said Trudeau, who toured the Bridge Street East facility before helping the organization mark its 50th anniversary by talking about volunteerism and the essential role volunteers play in their communities and beyond.

Trudeau, son of the late prime minister Pierre Trudeau, drew a connection between the values and commitment of volunteers and the new approach he believes is needed to tackle the challenges of environmental change, poverty, unemployment, health care and globalization. Volunteers such as those in Campbellford and Brighton are at the heart of the community model of engagement, Trudeau said.

“It’s a pleasure to see just how many people are involved and just how much is accomplished here,” he said, recognizing “how engaged this community is and how engaged all of you are.” Continue reading Volunteerism essential for a healthy country: Trudeau

Paul J. Rellinger

CAMPBELLFORD — His message was simple: get involved in your community and you will make a difference.

“The more you give of yourself, the happier, the more fulfilled, the more successful you are.”

Those words, spoken by Quebec Liberal MP Justin Trudeau on Aug. 11 to a packed crowd at the Campbellford Community Resource Centre, were a calling to area communities to get involved and volunteer.

Community Living Campbellford/Brighton is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and as part of the celebration, Mr. Trudeau toured the centre where he was shown the important role the organization has in the community and how active its volunteers are.

After his tour, Mr. Trudeau said he was most impressed by how much the community is involved and committed to making it a better place for all those who live in Trent Hills and Brighton.

“You can see the strength of this community and this area because of the connections that have been built. The way people feel part of this community, the way we know we matter because we have connected,” said Mr. Trudeau.

“By the involvement in your communities every day you’re imagining a country in which no one is afraid to dream big dreams. Imagine a country where our young people, our elders, where are people with disabilities are valued, and brought in for a life we’re all sharing. Not as receivers, but as contributors,” he added.

Most of Mr. Trudeau’s presentation was a means of getting young people inspired to volunteer and get involved in their communities.

“This message is not getting out nearly enough — that our young people…are understanding the importance of what they have to offer,” said Mr. Trudeau. “Not as leaders of tomorrow, but as leaders of today.”

He stressed youth do not have to get involved in politics to make a difference, because he understands many young people do not enjoy politics to the same degree he did growing up.

“Getting involved and changing the world doesn’t mean saving Darfur overnight. It means looking at they ways you can make a difference in the world around you for the better, in a community way, by following your passions,” said Mr. Trudeau. Continue reading Justin Trudeau praises Trent Hills and Brighton for volunteer work

Event helps spread awareness of Community Living movement
Friday August 13, 2010 — Deron Hamel

Justin Trudeau spoke to more than 100 community representatives about the importance of volunteerism and its role in creating inclusive communities at an Aug. 11 event hosted by Community Living Campbellford Brighton.

The visit from Trudeau, the Member of Parliament for the Papineau federal riding and eldest son of former prime minister Pierre Trudeau, helped spread awareness of the Community Living movement and was a “fantastic” engagement opportunity for community members, says Donna Desjardins, manager of supports and services at Community Living Campbellford Brighton.

“(Trudeau) really talked about community involvement and how volunteerism (is important), and how giving back and being involved and having a role to play in your community makes you a happier person, where you feel like you belong to your community more,” explains Desjardins.

Desjardins notes that Trudeau also spoke about how people who have a disability have an important role to play as full citizens in their communities and volunteerism can be an effective avenue to enhance citizenship for people.

From an awareness standpoint, Desjardins says the event brought together representatives from many local organizations, leading to increased understanding of the work Community Living does and the agency’s important status in the community.

Having so many important community stakeholders — including service clubs, local businesses, politicians and charitable organizations — at Community Living Campbellford Brighton raised awareness for volunteering opportunities at the agency, says Desjardins.

“To have that many key stakeholders here to hear about the need and benefits of volunteering in your community was great,” says Desjardins.

“We also have opportunities for people to be involved (at Community Living Campbellford Brighton), so people were taking information away and learned about us. So, we may get people who are interested in volunteering.”

Trudeau also took time to meet privately with agency representatives to discuss Community Living Campbellford Brighton’s work.

“He was really impressed,” says Desjardins.

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Article from the Community Living Ontario website www.communitylivingontario.ca