YMM Parent Magazine and MACOY launch 2020’s Top 20 Under 20 Program

Fort McMurray International Airport returns as program sponsor & event host

YMM Parent Magazine and the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo’s Mayor’s Advisory Council on Youth (MACOY) General Assembly members and facilitators are proud to announce the launch of the Top 20 Under 20 Program for 2020 and are currently seeking nominations for children and youth in the Wood Buffalo region to be recognized.

“The 20 Under 20 Program is a wonderful opportunity for the children and youth to be recognized for the good things that they are doing in Wood Buffalo. It does this by not only showcasing this region’s stellar young people but helps us to all recognize it’s never too early to start something great,” said Nicole Martyn-Dickinson, MACOY Lead and Social Program Advisor at the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.

Shaw Spotlight Producer of Fort McMurray Matthew Lorenz introducing the 2019 MACOY General Assembly to videography. Photo by Dawn Booth, YMM Parent

The inaugural Top 20 Under 20 Program was launched in 2019 as a pilot project initiated by YMM Parent in partnership with MACOY to provide mentorship opportunities in the local media and marketing industry, as well as, create a platform for MACOY’s students to highlight outstanding youth and children living within the region.

“This program is partnered with the Mayor’s Advisory Council on Youth, who with wonderful adult mentors from all different sectors of the region, are able to work on all aspects of creating this edition,” said Martyn-Dickinson.

“By integrating youth into the creation of this successful project, the importance of mentorship is highlighted, showing the community that with supportive adults in their lives, children and youth can achieve anything.”

Community support for the Top 20 Under 20 Program

With the support from the Fort McMurray International Airport, Shaw Spotlight – Fort McMurray, Foto Source Photography and Country 93.3, the pilot proved its success and 20 students, aged seven to 18, were recognized at the official launch event held at the airport’s observation deck area and in the pages of YMM Parent Magazine’s 2019 publication.

President & CEO of the Fort McMurray Airport Authority RJ Steenstra speaks at the 2019 Top 20 Under 20 event. Photo by Francine Ransome, FotoSource

President & CEO of the Fort McMurray Airport Authority RJ Steenstra looks forward to the continued program sponsorship partnership to help promote and invest in youth leadership within the community.

“Youth leadership is an area we are passionate about,” said Steenstra. “YMM Parent truly is a community asset and what better way to celebrate the talents of our local youth than by opening our doors and giving them a stage where they can shine.”

With the Authority’s long-standing role as ambassadors to youth through the 868 Squadron – YMM Northstar Fort McMurray Air Cadets, the Top 20 Under 20 Program further extends their reach in providing youth with opportunities to learn citizenship and leadership skills.

The Top 20 Under 20’s Class of 2020 will be published in the Spring of 2020 in YMM Parent Magazine’s Issue 3. Visit www.ymmparent.ca, for updates and announcements.

YMM Parent Magazine’s 2019 Top 20 Under 20 can be found online. Nominations are now open for the Class of 2020. Click here for the online and printable download form.

To nominate, please read the full nomination form. If you have any questions, please contact YMM Parent’s Editor-in-Chief Dawn Booth at dawn@balsom.com.

About the author

Dawn Booth

Editor-in-Chief at YMM Parent | dawn@balsom.ca

Dawn Booth is the Editor-in-Chief of YMM Parent Magazine and Your McMurray Magazine. She has actively worked in the Wood Buffalo region's media industry since residing in Fort McMurray in 2007.

Her passion is writing poetry and puts it at the forefront of the community through her volunteer work as the President of NorthWord Magazine. Most important, Booth puts her family of five first, which includes her husband Ryan and their three children, Landon, Dawson and Tessa.