Mayor's Youth Advisory Committee (MYAC)

This scholarship recognizes the importance of leadership and community involvement - not just marks! If you're a high school student in Niagara Falls with a minimum 75% grade average and have been actively involved in your community or school, this scholarship could be for you.

One or two deserving students can receive up to $2,000 in scholarship funds each year.

2025 scholarship winner
Congratulations to Madeline Berardi of A.N. Myer Secondary School. Madeline received $2,000!

Scholarship details

• Prize: Up to $2,000, awarded to one or two students yearly.
• Deadline: April 30, 2026, at 11:59 pm
• Eligibility: Niagara Falls residents in their graduating year with a minimum 75% GPA who demonstrate leadership and involvement in the community and/or school. Members and relatives of MYAC are not eligible.
• Selection: Recipients will be chosen at MYAC’s May meeting. Before review, all personal information will be removed from applications.

How to apply

Complete the online application by the deadline and submit the following:

1. Proof of a 75% or higher GPA (e.g., transcript or letter from your guidance counsellor).
2. At least one reference letter highlighting your community or school involvement.
3. Responses to each of the following questions:

• Describe one personal quality that makes you a leader in your community and/or school (250 words max)
• Outline how you plan to continue your community involvement in the future (250 words max)
• Summarize your community and/or school involvement and highlight one impactful contribution (500 words max)

James (Jim) W. Mitchinson was born in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada in 1925. After graduating from high school, he joined the Canadian Air Force, where he trained as a Navigator and served in World War II. After the war, thanks to the GI Bill, he enrolled in the Bachelor of Business Administration program at the University of Toronto and graduated in 1948. While in Toronto, he met his wife, Georgina, and they married and moved back to Niagara Falls in 1949. Back in Niagara Falls, Jim worked for the Ohio Brass Company for 35 years, and he and his wife raised three children. Jim passed away in 2013, with his wife following two years later.

Jim was extremely involved in the community throughout his life. Over the years, he received several honours for his exemplary volunteer contributions. Among those awards were two City of Niagara Falls Volunteer Recognition Awards and the very prestigious Ontario Heritage Community Recognition Award.

Jim dedicated countless volunteer hours to the preservation of heritage in Niagara Falls. He was involved in the 1970 restoration of St. John’s Anglican Church and continued to volunteer and serve on church committees for his lifetime. He was instrumental in the creation of the heritage organization, the Friends of Stamford Village, and in the creation of the Niagara Falls Heritage Week, and was a highly involved and dedicated member of both. Over the years he also served on the Niagara Falls Board of Museums, Lundy’s Lane Historical Society, Centennial Book Committee “Images of a Century”, and the Ontario Hydro Memorial Committee which is located on the Haulage Road Recreational Trail.

Jim volunteered in areas other than heritage including a time on the executive of the YMCA, acting as a volunteer driver for the Canadian Cancer Society driving patients for treatments in Hamilton and Toronto at least once a week for many years, and more.

Singing was a big part of Jim’s life; he was a member of the Gentlemen Songsters and then the Niagara Men’s Chorus (when they amalgamated in 1999), participating until he was 87 years old.

Jim Mitchinson was truly a part of the fabric that makes up Niagara Falls and exemplified volunteerism and giving back to the community. This award is generously funded by Tom Mitchinson in his father's honour.

Regular meetings

Meetings are generally open to the public.

Location: MacBain Community Centre, 7150 Montrose Road
Time: 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm, on the first Wednesday of every month from November to June.
Meeting dates for the 2025/2026 school year:

• November 5, 2025
• December 3, 2025
• January 7, 2026
• February 4, 2026
• March 4, 2026
• April 1, 2026
• May 6, 2026
• June 3, 2026

Presenting at a meeting:

If you represent a local community organization or program/service that engages or supports youth/teens in Niagara Falls and are interested in presenting about your initiative at an upcoming meeting, please connect with the staff liaison for details.

Email: Community Recreation Coordinator
Phone: 905-356-7521 ext. 4359

Members

The Committee shall be made up of a maximum of twenty-eight (28) people, comprised of five (5) youth from each of the five local high schools, two (2) additional youth from other schools (French language, private, etc.), and one (1) MYAC Alumni. All MYAC members must be residents of Niagara Falls.

Term 

The minimum term of office is one (1) school year (September to June).

Once appointed, members will be considered for reappointment for the duration of their high school enrolment. After each year, the staff liaison will recommend to Principals the reappointment of active and contributing Committee Members. Our success hinges on the experience and guidance of returning members. Students may choose not to reapply due to competing priorities.

Who selects the members

The respective high school principal or an appropriate representative will select student representatives. 

It is strongly recommended that the students selected, including those reappointed, represent each grade and that at least one of the members be a member of the Student Council.

Interested Alumni must apply in writing to the staff liaison or the Mayor’s office.

Applications for representatives from other schools (French Language, private, etc.) and for the Alumni representative will be administered, reviewed, and selected by the MYAC staff liaison(s). A maximum of two students will be chosen each year.

If Committee vacancies occur, the staff liaison will contact the appropriate high school principal and request the appointment of new members.

Contact the City liaison

Email: Community Recreation Coordinator
Phone: 905-356-7521 ext. 4359

The committee will elect all positions.

1. Responsibilities and authority of Chair/Co-Chair
   1. To chair all meetings of the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Committee
   2. To prepare all agendas for the Committee meetings with the assistance of the staff liaison(s)
   3. To motivate individual members and recognize each member’s contribution to the Committee
   4. To delegate appropriate tasks or responsibilities to individual Committee members
   5. To network with student councils and other youth organizations
   6. To make presentations to City Council with the assistance of the staff liaison(s)
   7. To attend Council meetings and participate in an advisory capacity when appropriate. A designate may be assigned as required.
   8. To represent the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Committee at any social functions or other meetings where the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Committee’s attendance is required
   9. To call additional meetings in consultation with the staff liaison(s) as necessary
   10. To lead workshops/public meetings, as required
       
       
2. Responsibilities of Vice-Chair
   1. Assume all responsibilities for the Committee Chair or Co-Chairs in their absence
   2. Oversee all work of the Committee and foster a positive line of communication with Committee members
   3. Supervise attendance of Committee members at their respective meetings in consultation with the Committee Chair or Co-Chairs and staff liaison
      
      
3. Responsibilities of Secretary
   1. Take minutes for all committee meetings and email to the staff liaison
   2. To ensure Committee meeting summaries are clear and concise. Motions must be recorded
   3. To record names, addresses, email addresses and phone numbers of Committee members
   4. Responsible for the official correspondence of the Committee
   5. To mark the attendance of Committee members at all meetings
   6. To mark the attendance of Committee members at all events
   7. To advise the Chair and the Staff liaison of any committee members that have missed three (3) meetings
      
      
4. Responsibilities of Social Media Coordinator
   1. Maintain an active and professional social media presence for MYAC on Instagram and Facebook
   2. Create or assist in the creation of posts, advertisements, posters, etc. for MYAC initiatives
   3. Schedule the release of social media posts to ensure maximum reach
   4. Propose advertising strategies to help posts reach a larger audience
      
      
5. Responsibilities of Principal Liaisons (5)
   1. To advise their High School Principals of upcoming committee meetings and events
   2. To advise their High School Principals of any important issues relating to the Committee and the students of the High School
   3. To connect with student councils/governments to inform them of upcoming events or initiatives
      
      
6. Responsibilities of all Committee Members
   1. To attend all meetings, including those of your chosen sub-committees
   2. To participate on a minimum of one (1) and a maximum of three (3) sub-committees
   3. To play an integral role to the Committee by actively participating and contributing to projects/special events coordinated by the Committee
   4. Must be an official member appointed by their respective high school principal to vote on issues
   5. Members must notify the Chair or Co-Chairs of the Committee and the staff liaison of their absence from a meeting if they are unable to attend
   6. To propose to the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Committee projects and plans designed to assist in the fulfillment of the purposes of the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Committee
   7. To contribute to MYAC in a positive way throughout their term

When a member misses three (3) regular meetings, without explanation or valid regrets, they may be asked to step down from the Committee. The same rule applies to each of the sub-committees.

• Regrets should be sent as early as possible to the Chair or Co-Chairs, Subcommittee Chair, and/or the staff liaison
• A regret may be deemed invalid by the Chair/Co-Chairs or Staff Liaison if insufficient cause or time is given
• If a vacancy occurs, the Committee may contact the corresponding High School Principal and ask that another representative be sent as a replacement

Decision making

The Committee will approve the matters it wishes to advise Council about by a motion.

A resolution of the Committee will be adopted on a motion carried by a simple majority vote. A quorum is required, which consists of a minimum of 50% plus one of the committee's voting members.

Council updates

MYAC will provide at least two updates to Council each year on its activities. The update may be in the form of a Council deputation or a memorandum.

Based on its mandate and purpose, MYAC will establish its priorities at the beginning of each school year and develop a work program to focus its attention. MYAC will consult with the staff liaison(s) regarding all matters and how they correspond to the work plan.

MYAC may consider:

• Items referred by others
• Important matters that are within its responsibilities
• Matters referred by Council or other Committees of Council
• Matters identified by youth in the community. Such matters should be identified and explained in writing, addressed to the Chair.

MYAC may form sub-committees to manage specific events or projects. The following applies to all subcommittees:

• Initial sub-committee budgets must be submitted in a timely fashion after resolution and must be approved by the Committee
• Any major variations to the initial sub-committee budgets must be brought to the Committee for approval
• It is recommended that each sub-committee elect a chair or co-chairs and a secretary
• The chair or co-chairs of each sub-committee will be responsible for setting meeting dates, ensuring a room is booked, and reminding sub-committee members of meeting dates and responsibilities
• Sub-committees will consist of at least one representative from each of the five local high schools