It began with an RCMP survey to figure out what the main issues and priorities are for youth and has evolved to become provincial and local youth advisory committees that meet regularly to delve into the issues and come up with some projects to help curb them.
RCMP Community Program Officer, Laili Yazdani, says there are 9 Detachments with advisory committees and a separate provincial committee.
All of them have RCMP representatives, youth, and community organizations that act as mentors to the 12 to 17 year olds.
These meetings just got underway this month.
Yazdani says from the original survey, the 5 main issues were bullying, alcohol, drugs, vaping and poor driving, and now the participants have also added addressing gangs, mental health, and supporting youth through COVID-19 anxiety.
She believes the initiative is off to a good start.
After a recent virtual meeting for the provincial group, Yazdani stuck around with her co-worker to answer any questions, and a couple of youth stuck around to tell them they already have plans to take action.

The provincial committee is full but interested youth in the participating Detachments of La Ronge, Pelican narrows, La Loche, Melfort, Meadow Lake, North Battleford, Warman, Southey and Moosomin can contact their local RCMP Detachment for more information.