A local student had the chance to step into the shoes of an MLA.
Nikolas Shapka, a Grade 10 student at Notre Dame High School, was selected to take part in the Mr. Speaker’s MLA for a Day program. The aspiring politician spent three days in May at the Alberta Legislature learning the ins-and-outs of what it means to be an Member of the Legislative Assembly.
“I wanted to participate in this program because I enjoy being in the role of leadership and being able to take control, express my opinions, and make a change,” Shapka said. “I saw what Mr. Scott Cyr was doing as a really cool job, being able to do something for his community, and I wanted to experience that.”
Open to youth enrolled in Grades 10 to 12, the program is free for participants selected. Interested students from across the province are required to submit an application, giving some background on themselves, why they applied, and what their interests are. There is room for 87 students to be MLA for a Day each year.
“I was really excited because, a couple years before, my sister had participated in it. She was telling me all of her stories and it sounded like a lot of fun. I was a bit surprised by how many people there were, it astonished me how many other people were interested in the same things as me,” expressed Shapka.
The program provides an opportunity for Alberta youth to experience democracy first-hand, and share ideas with other high school students.
“Over three days we did a bunch of activities; team building, watching the legislature, debate preps leading up to our big debate. On the final day we got to go into the actual chamber in the legislature to do a formal debate about a mock bill,” Shapka recalled. “That was the best experience ever to be in the chamber, in the seat of a cabinet member.”
He added, “It was a first-hand experience, and something that very few people can say they’ve done. That’s something that I’ll always have and am going to try and use in deciding my future.”
To assist students in learning about the role of an MLA, they had the chance to spend time shadowing their own local representative. In Shapka’s case, Bonnyville-Cold Lake MLA Scott Cyr.
“It was a bit nerve-racking because I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to hold a conversation, but he’s a really nice and easy-going guy. It was awesome just to be able to have a one-on-one, and talk and learn from his as a mentor for a couple of days.”
The budding young politicians got the full political experience, also being invited to attend a formal dinner hosted by the Speaker. For Shapka, it’s an experience he won’t soon forget.
“I learned some good debate skills and a lot of good people skills. All of these people, you’ve never met before so it’s a lot of interactions, meeting new people, and connecting with them.”
One day, you may even find Shapka putting his name in the ring for MLA.
“I think it’s something I’m considering, going down that road. It was a lot of fun to be able to give my opinions and my ideas and be able to fight for what I thought. It was really cool and this is one of the few fields where you can do that, and do it professionally. It’s definitely something I want to pursue.”
