By Mark Squibb
Three young people along the Southern Shore are challenging the notion that seats at the council table ought to be reserved for retirees and the middle-aged.
Ethan Williams was 19 when he was acclaimed to Bay Bulls council in October of 2023.
“Finding ways to better the community that I grew up in and that supported me was one of the big reasons I decided to run for council,” said Williams. “Even if we can’t do everything, it’s good to know that we can do something to better the community.”
Williams said he was overwhelmed with the support he received both from within the Town Hall and from the community at large.
“It’s been incredible, and that’s no word of a lie,” said Williams. “When I put my name forward there was definitely a little bit of worry… but it’s been nearly a year and it’s been absolutely incredible. My colleagues at the Town Hall have been extremely supportive of me and of making sure I got on the path, that I was understanding everything, that I was picking everything up, that I wasn’t being left behind at the discussion table, which was of course greatly appreciated. But the coolest thing for me to see is how supportive my community has been.”
Williams recalls that the 2015 provincial and federal elections were the first political events of any kind that he paid close attention to.
The federal election in particular, and the possibility of long running Prime Minister Stephen Harper losing his seat to Liberal Justin Trudeau, sparked political discussion amongst Williams and his elementary school classmates.
“There were discussions among me and some of my friends, even in sixth grade, about what was going on,” said Williams. “There was a lot of talk about the possibility of Stephen Harper being ousted. Keep in mind, we were born in 2004, so at that point a Stephen Harper led country was all we had known, and so that actually sparked a lot of conversation among me and my friends, even though we were only 11 or 12 years at the time. ‘Oh my goodness, Stephen Harper could be gone!’— and for us, that was a big deal. We didn’t know a lot about politics, but we knew that he was the leader of our country.”
As Williams matured, so did his interest in all thing’s politics — outside of Bay Bulls council, he serves as a board member and vice-president of internal affairs for the Newfoundland and Labrador Youth Parliament and as a member of the Young Progressive Conservatives of Newfoundland and Labrador.
He said youths often offer a different perspective from other community leaders.
“You still don’t see a whole lot of youth representation at the decision-making table, and when you really think about governance as a whole, the best way for us to have a strong government is to ensure that all the different voices from our communities, from different age ranges and backgrounds, are represented,” said Williams. “You can learn so much from a different perspective, from a different opinion, or when something new is brought forward.”
He encouraged other youths to also put their names forward for council should they feel compelled to do so.
“Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t, and I really do stand by that one because I think we have a really big misconception when it comes to elected office and leadership positions as a whole,” said Williams. “A lot of times young people feel like they really don’t belong in those positions, and I think the best thing myself and other people who are in these positions can do is to say that they absolutely do belong at those decision-making tables.”
Besides serving as a member of council, Williams is working towards both a political science degree and a business degree at MUN.
Justina Nawaz, 19, was acclaimed to Witless Bay council this past May. Nawaz said her grandmother Jessie Burke encouraged her to put her name forward for council.
“She knew that I was pursuing an education in political science and suggested I consider running for Witless Bay council,” said Nawaz. “I initially dismissed the idea as I believed I lacked any necessary experience to take on such a position. During our conversation, I told her I felt I had no place acting in a role that granted me voting power on issues that I knew others could be much more knowledgeable in. She was quick to remind me that no singular community member is more important than the other, and any person willing to step up and put themselves forward for the town was one deserving of the position.”
Nawaz, who is majoring in Law and Public Policy at MUN, said she’s been interested in politics from a young age.
“I remember listening in on political conversations as a kid, whether they were on the news or in my living room and was drawn to the enthusiasm it brought out in others,” said Nawaz. “I started taking political science courses my first semester of university and I’ve been consistently taking them since.”
Like Williams, Nawaz said that it’s important to have young voices at the council table.
“Including youth in political spaces such as the council table results in a council that properly reflects the community they represent. I think encouraging young people to get involved in municipal politics provides a great learning opportunity for those like me who have interests in both the field and in their community,” she said. “Recognizing the value of our voices ensures that our opinions and perspectives are considered at the same level as everyone else’s. Council members bear a responsibility to consider all of those they represent. By creating space for youth in their political spaces, the council table becomes less intimidating and more accommodating.”
Nathan Ryan was 20 when he was elected to Ferryland council during the 2021 general election.
“I’ve always had an interest in politics and in being involved in the community,” said Ryan. “From a very young age you would see me volunteering, whether that was with school sports or with different community functions. I was always very interested in giving back, and once I got into my high school years, I started to look at politics and tried to see where my values best aligned, and of course then I got involved with the Progressive Conservatives of Newfoundland and Labrador, and that’s been a great experience for me, and I’ve made lots of allies and friends in that world. And so, I said to myself, I love being involved in politics, and so what’s the best way I can be involved in politics but also give back to my community? And the logical step was council.”
Ryan said at the time, there were no young people at the council table.
“Some of my buddies said to me, ‘Maybe you should run! You’re involved in politics, you’re involved in the community, why don’t you give it a shot? We’ve never voted in municipal elections before, but we would for you,’” said Ryan. “And so that was a bit of motivation, and so I said. ‘Okay, I’ll put my name in.’”
Ryan is following in the footsteps of his parents Wayne and Vivian Ryan, both of whom served on council, and said the support of his parents was a big factor in his decision.
Ryan said he is proud of the work council has put into establishing a local wharf, which was at the top of his mind when he put his name forward in 2021, and the launch of the Ferryland Fall Fair and Ferryland Days festival in recent years, amongst other council projects.
“It’s not always rosy, but the benefits in the end pay off because you see your community thrive, you get to give back to a community that you love so dearly, but also you get to expand your network along the Southern Shore,” said Ryan. “We’ve got a great town, with great people in it, and having the opportunity to work with the people in your community is fantastic. Our town is small, but we’re mighty when it comes to effort. Our council works hard, and in terms of council, everyone has their strengths, and everyone pulls those strengths together for the betterment of the community. Members of council don’t always get along, but, in the end, they come together with the common goal of making their community better. Everyone has different viewpoints, everyone has different ways of making a decision, but in the end, we come together for a general consensus and for the betterment of the community.”
Ryan said he’s glad to see other young people, like Nawaz and Williams, step up in neighbouring communities, and hopes he can encourage others to run for municipal office. He said people in Ferryland were excited to see a young person run for council, and he reckons the rest of the Shore would be the same.
“We need more young people involved in these communities, because we’re the future of these communities,” said Ryan. “Twenty, 30, 40 years down the road, we’re going to be the people trying to keep these communities alive. Starting out young in council isn’t a bad thing because you learn, and you learn early, and you make mistakes, but then you learn from those mistakes.”
Outside of council, Ryan is a member, and former chair, of the Southern Shore Joint Council, and an active member of the Progressive Conservative Party. He’s also heavily involved in a number of other groups, including the Southern Shore Breakers.
He encouraged anyone considering politics to shoot for the stars.
“That’s something I’ve always believed in,” said Ryan. “There’s nothing in this life that you can’t do. Hard work always pays off. Never say never until you try. I think there are people out there who are passionate, but who are nervous to step up because they may perceive councils as an old guy’s club, but really, it’s not. When you have a supportive community, those bridges are there to be built.”
Ryan has a Bachelor of Arts from MUN and a degree in Public Relations from the University of Regina and hopes to continue his schooling in the near future.
