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w w w .in s id e h a lto n .c o m | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, M ay 2 6 , 2 0 1 7 | 14 Every week we showcase topics about local youths. S E N D U S YO UR N E W S: If you are a youth and you have a story or photo to share, we'll do our b est to publish it on this page. Em ail it to ahlaekhum @ oakvilleheaver. com, along with your nam e and a brief p aragraph abou t why you w ant to sh are it with our readers. | Christien Rivard photo | Office of the Premier Ontario Labour Minister and Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn's Oakville Provincial Youth Advisory Committee (OPYAC) members, left, gather for a day at Queen's Park. Pictured, in front, from left, Yvan Baker, MPP Etobicoke Centre & Parliamen tary Assistant to the Minister of Finance, Flynn, Deborah Matthews, MPP London North Centre, Deputy Premier & Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development & Responsible for Digital Government, Education Minister Mitzie Hunter, MPP Scarborough-Guildwood, and Granville Anderson, MPP Durham, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education. In back, from left, Nikhi Bhambra (Grade 12) St. Thomas Aquinas; Allison Headrick, Grade 11, Oakville Trafalgar High School; Colten Slater, Grade 11, T A Blakelock; Emily Loffe, Grade 11, St. Mildred's-Lightbourn School; Henry Mann, Grade 11, St. Thomas Aquinas; and, Elora Franklin, Grade 12, St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Secondary School. At right, the group members with Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, centre, and Flynn, far right - from left, Slater, Headrick, Franklin, Mann, Bhambra, and Ioffe. At top of page, guest columnist Allison Headrick chats with Wynne. Financial literacy: An essential life skill byAllison Headrick Special to the Beaver O ntario Labour Minister and Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn's Oakville Provincial Youth Advisory Committee (OPYAC) is a riding-wide student led group of approximately 20 Grade 10 to 12 students. In order to foster active engagement with the businesses and services offered in our community, OPYAC meets monthly at various Oakville locations throughout the school year. As a committee we discuss youth issues being raised amongst our peers, approaching them from a provincial perspective. Each year the group selects a theme and creates a project to either learn more about or advocate for change on a given issue. This year's focus is personal financial literacy (PFL), or the ability to manage money effectively for a lifetime of financial well-being. Graduating students Justine Jasnich and Victoria Winslow, both in Grade 12 at Oakville Trafalgar High School, offered some insight into why they chose to stay involved with OPYAC for a second year: "We joined because we felt it was a great opportunity to actively make a difference in our community with the support of local government. It was fun to meet students from other schools who share our similar passions." seeYouths on p.15 MADE IN NT \ M/ CANADA FAMI LY OWNED AND OPERATED FOR 35 YEARS BUILDING FINE ART INTO YOUR HOME. KITCHENS AND BATH MANUFACTURER SHOWROOM HI Brockley D r., H am ilton, O ntario 905 573 2311 * * fa m ily ^ 1 w e r Visit our showroom online @ www.laurentidekitchens.ca Monday-Friday 9am-4:30pm, Saturday 10am-3pm, Sunday & Evenings by appt. only