Brehanna Gour

Age: 19 (February 14, 2002)

School: First-Year Student at the University of Alberta for School Year 2020/2021

Future Goal: To have a positive impact on people’s lives

Written by Saakshi Arvikar, MACOY

Brehanna Gour is a force to be reckoned with in our community and an inspiration for kids of all ages to believe in themselves and let their imaginations run wild.

When speaking about the people who have helped her get where she is today, Brehanna highlights the ones she has met through the Mayor’s Advisory Council on Youth (MACOY) program.

“If I had to choose one thing that helped lead me to this position, it would be MACOY and the mentors on it. It created an environment where I was able to make mistakes and learn from them,” she said.

To her peers, Brehanna’s time was invaluable and beneficial to their development due to her constant questioning of widely practiced societal norms. She also motivated others to strive to be the best and most compassionate versions of themselves.

“If I had to choose one thing that helped lead me to this position, it would be MACOY and the mentors on it.” — Brehanna Gour

Brehanna shares her wisdom by encouraging youth to not let failure discourage them to achieve their goals.

“Sometimes things aren’t going to work out, but they will allow you to learn where you went wrong and how you can do better in the future. Making mistakes is good, especially when you’re young! Now is the time to make the mistakes because the risks aren’t generally high.”

Brehanna is a well-balanced individual that juggles academics, childcare, community leadership and youth mentorship. Her high school praises her dedication to academics, and she is now pursuing post-secondary education at the University of Alberta.

She spent a lot of her time in high school volunteering at various organizations around the community to help set up and lead events.

At home, Brehanna spends a lot of time helping in her mother’s childcare business and has an incredible capacity for caring for children. Her incredibly responsible, patient and loving nature shines when you see her interacting with them.

Aside from all her accomplishments, Brehanna loves using photography as a creative outlet to express herself.

“Taking pictures is my way of keeping memories, being able to look back and share a story about little moments. I also love the quality of a camera rather than your phone, as it adds texture and depth. It feels like you’re living in that moment again,” she said.

About the author

YMM Parent Team

YMM Parent Team is a collaboration of authors and contributors from in and around Fort McMurray.