More than 200 Grade 5 and 6 students in Sault Ste. Marie competed this month for the title of ‘Mayor for a Day,’ and the winner has been chosen. “Through written or video submissions, local youth demonstrated an impressive understanding of municipal governance and operations, along with a passion for Sault Ste. Marie,” the city said in a news release Monday. They were asked to answer three questions: “This contest has proven to be a great way to get young people interested in their municipal government,” said Mayor Matthew Shoemaker. “Introducing young community members to municipality helps them understand the structure and function of government, in turn developing a sense of civic duty and responsibility that will hopefully encourage them to be informed and active participants in our community as they grow.” Winner chosen In a video submitted by Taylor May Brown, a Grade 5 student at St. Francis French Immersion Catholic School, she outlined the changes she would make if given the chance. Proving politics doesn’t have to be boring, Brown’s first order of business would be to start each day with a free pancake breakfast and have campfires to roast marshmallows every Friday night at the Sault Locks. She said she would also turn the Miss Marie lock tour boat into a Beaver Tails ship, have a talent show at the Bondar tent, declare ‘Hug a Tree Day’ at Bellevue Park, build a giant snow fort and have a city-wide snowball fight at the downtown plaza. As the winner, Brown gets a tour of the Civic Centre and will meet Mayor Matthew Shoemaker. He will also visit her class and throw them all a pizza party. Brown will officially open the city council meeting Monday at 5 p.m. “Her video (watch above) will be shown at the beginning of the meeting, and the students recognized with honourable mentions have been invited to attend the meeting as well,” the city said. Three other Grade 5 students were chosen as honourable mentions in the contest: Scarlett Douglas of Parkland Public School, Jax O’Hara of Greenwood Public School and Charlotte Mackenzie of Tarentorus Public School.
