By: Felicia Pagulayan, Youth Co-ordinator, Santos Youth Council
January 17, 2025
On Monday January 14, Councillor Santos welcomed the senior students of St. Jean Vianney Elementary School, to Brampton City Hall for a special tour, including observation of the Community Services presentation for the 2025 Brampton Budget. As one of our many hosted youth tours this term, over 50 students participated to meet Councillor Santos and Mayor Brown, and gain a behind-the-scenes look at city governance.
Special shout out to Jacob Lamonaca, an incredible student at St. Jean Vianney’s, who inspired this visit. In early 2024, Jacob reached out to Councillor Santos, to advocate for the renovation of his local park. His months of advocacy on behalf of the neighbourhood made it through to the Community Services Budget, which was confirmed in-person during the Budget presentation! Through this process Jacob decided to bring along fellow students to learn about municipal processes at the City of Brampton.
“One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is working with youth. I especially enjoy touring our youth around City Hall! It’s truly inspiring to see young people actively engaging in City matters, especially when they observe important meetings like this year’s budget session. This tour was especially meaningful, as it was inspired by Jacob, who passionately advocated for the renovation of his local park. It was also a special treat for me to have my nephew, a student at the school, join us on this tour!”
– Rowena Santos, Regional Councillor, Wards 1 & 5, Chair, Community Services
Supporting and creating space for young people in Brampton has always been a key priority for Councillor Santos. Over the years, she has championed groundbreaking programs, like the Susan Fennell and Century Gardens Youth Hubs, support for youth mental health, Roselea Tennis Courts for youth, and the Explore Brampton Youth Pass. She has also made immense strides in creating opportunities for youth to get involved in their communities through her very own youth group, the Santos Youth Council of over 300 members. Link to register here. In a city as unique, diverse, and young as Brampton, it is important now more than ever for youth to educate themselves and be engaged in government!
If you or your school is interested in meeting Councillor Santos and touring Brampton City Hall, please contact our office: Rowena.Santos@Brampton.ca
