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Student Advisory Council
Manitoba students are the cornerstone of our education system, and their perspectives are crucial in guiding the decisions that impact them. The Student Advisory Council empowers young people to share their voice and experience to help shape the future of our education system.
The Student Advisory Council consists of 30 high school students with diverse interests, identities, backgrounds, and perspectives from across Manitoba. Council members will provide insights and advice to the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning regarding current and emerging issues and topics related to Manitoba’s Kindergarten to Grade 12 students. Students will form a network to advance innovation and improvement in Manitoba’s education system.
For the terms of reference see the Student Advisory Council Terms of Reference (
213 KB).
List of Schools Representing Members of the 2024/2025 Student Advisory Council
- Balmoral Hall
- Collège Jeanne-Sauvé
- College Miles Macdonnell Collegiate
- College Stonewall Collegiate
- École secondaire Oak Park High School
- Glenlawn Collegiate
- Grant Park High School
- Lord Selkirk Regional Comprehensive School
- Manitoba School For the Deaf
- Maples Collegiate
- Mennonite Bretheren Collegiate Institute
- Morden Collegiate Institute
- Neepawa Area Collegiate Institute
- Nelson McIntyre Collegiate
- Niverville High School
- Pembina Trails Collegiate
- Portage Collegiate Institute
- R.D. Parker Collegiate
- Saint Mary's Academy
- Steinbach Regional Secondary School
- Vincent Massey Collegiate
- Windsor Park Collegiate
Student Advisory Council Members 2023/2024
| Aaditya Raj Singh | Grade 11 student at Fort Richmond Collegiate in Pembina Trails School Division |
| Aadvika Mukherjee | Grade 11 student at Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute |
| Allison Beaumont* | Grade 11 student at Neepawa Area Collegiate in Beautiful Plains School Division |
| Brianne Judson* | Grade 12 student at Roseau Valley School in Border Land School Division |
| Edlynne Paez | Grade 11 student at Niverville High School in Hanover School Division |
| Glydel Capua | Grade 12 student at Crocus Plains Regional Secondary in Brandon School Division |
| Griffin Carnelley | Grade 12 student at Carman Collegiate in Prairie Rose School Division |
| Hafssa Jamal | Grade 11 student at St. Mary’s Academy |
| Harisharn Bahra | Grade 11 student at Fort Richmond Collegiate in Pembina Trails School Division |
| Hassan Saijad | Grade 10 student at Dakota Collegiate in Louis Riel School Division |
| Ievgeniia-Diana Furda* | Grade 12 student at École secondaire Kelvin High School in Winnipeg School Division |
| Ivy Zheng | Grade 10 student at Vincent Massey Collegiate in Pembina Trails School Division |
| Jeremy Lloyd | Grade 12 student at Northlands Parkway Collegiate in Garden Valley School Division |
| Julian McArthur* | Grade 12 student at École secondaire Kelvin High School in Winnipeg School Division |
| Kristine-Claire Bolisay | Grade 11 student at Steinbach Regional Secondary School in Hanover School Division |
| Lauren Field | Grade 10 student at Balmoral Hall School |
| London Fraser | Grade 12 student at École Pointe-des-Chênes in Division scolaire franco-manitobaine |
| Mackaila Bruce-Tapley | Grade 11 student at Centre scolaire Léo Rémillard in Division scolaire franco-manitobaine |
| Namirembe Afatsawo* | Grade 12 student at Margaret Barbour Collegiate Institute in Kelsey School Division |
| Nilesh Dhakal | Grade 10 student at Linden Christian School |
| Owen Tully | Grade 12 student at St. Paul's Collegiate |
| Pleasant Oyela | Grade 12 student at Windsor Park Collegiate in Louis Riel School Division |
| Precious Ola-Joseph | Grade 12 student at Collège Miles Macdonell Collegiate in River East Transcona School Division |
| Rafia Oyewole | Grade 12 student at Glenlawn Collegiate in Louis Riel School Division |
| Sally Leask | Grade 11 student at Churchill High School in Winnipeg School Division |
| Samantha Martinussen* | Grade 11 student at Stonewall Collegiate in Interlake School Division |
| Siya Patel* | Grade 12 student at Crocus Plains Regional Secondary High School |
| Stanley Gwanoya | Grade 9 student at St. John’s Ravenscourt School |
| Teniayomi Olumide-Ale | Grade 12 student at St. John’s Ravenscourt School |
| Tony (Seung Woo) Han* | Grade 10 student at Collège Jeanne-Sauvé in Louis Riel School Division |
* Members serving their second term on the Student Advisory Council.
Student Advisory Council Members 2022/2023
| Aaron Linke | Grade 12 student at École Edward Schreyer School in Sunrise School Division |
| Abdul-Wassay Mirza | Grade 10 student at St. John’s-Ravenscourt School in Winnipeg |
| Aiden Anderson | Grade 12 at student at J.H. Bruns Collegiate in Louis Riel School Division |
| Allison Beaumont | Grade 10 student at Neepawa Area Collegiate Institute in Beautiful Plains School Division |
| Bijan Salimi | Grade 12 student at Morden Collegiate Institute in Western School Division |
| Brianne Judson | Grade 11 student at Roseau Valley School in Border Land School Division |
| Ebubechukwu (Isabella) Nebo | Grade 10 student at Institut collégial Vincent Massey Collegiate in Pembina Trails School Division |
| Ella Hamilin | Grade 12 student at Murdoch MacKay Collegiate in River East Transcona School Division |
| Ievgeniia-Diana Furda | Grade 11 student at École Secondaire Kelvin High School in Winnipeg School Division |
| Jordan Gottfried | Grade 12 student at Collège Lorette Collegiate in Seine River School Division |
| Josh Nienhuis | Grade 12 student at Springfield Collegiate Institute in Sunrise School Division |
| Julian McArthur | Grade 11 student at École Secondaire Kelvin High School in Winnipeg School Division |
| Katherine Dueck | Graduate of the Class of 2022 at Green Valley School in Hanover School Division |
| Layne Hunnie-Menow | Grade 12 student at Helen Betty Osborne Ininiw Education Resource Centre in Frontier School Division |
| Lily Rich | Grade 12 student at Balmoral Hall School in Winnipeg |
| Mia Beetham Outingdyke | Grade 10 student at Portage Collegiate Institute in Portage la Prairie School Division |
| Michael Akinbode | Grade 10 student at Crocus Plains Regional Secondary School in Brandon School Division |
| Mya Dueck | Grade 11 student at Boissevain School in Turtle Mountain School Division |
| Namirembe Afatsawo | Grade 11 student at Margaret Barbour Collegiate Institute in Kelsey School Division |
| Nicholas Johnston | Grade 10 student at Landmark Collegiate in Hanover School Division |
| Nicholas Spenst | Grade 12 student at Collège St. Norbert Collegiate in Seine River School Division |
| Nira Atwal | Grade 10 Student at Balmoral Hall School in Winnipeg |
| Rania Ibrahim | Graduate of the Class of 2022 at The University of Winnipeg Collegiate in Winnipeg |
| Samantha Martinussen | Grade 10 student at Stonewall Collegiate Institute in Interlake School Division |
| Seung Woo Han | Grade 9 student at Collège Jeanne-Sauvé in Louis Riel School Division |
| Siya Patel | Grade 10 student at Crocus Plains Regional Secondary in Brandon School Division |
| Suroor Ajani | Grade 12 student at Erikson Collegiate Institute in Rolling River School Division |
| Sydney Rose Povey | Grade 12 student at École Secondaire Kelvin High School in Winnipeg School Division |
| Viraaj Raina | Grade 11 student at Fort Richmond Collegiate in Pembina Trails School Division |
| Vuk Roca | Grade 12 student at Collège Garden City Collegiate in Seven Oaks School Division |
Student Advisory Council Members 2021/2022
| Aadvika Mukherjee | Grade 9 student at Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute in Winnipeg |
| Aidan Tully | Grade 11 student at St. Paul's Collegiate in Prairie Rose School Division |
| Allison Beaumont | Grade 9 student at Neepawa Area Collegiate Institute in Beautiful Plains School Division |
| Ashton Kaleta | Grade 12 student at Dauphin Regional Comprehensive Secondary School in Mountain View School Division |
| Bijan Salimi | Grade 11 student at Morden Collegiate in Western School Division |
| Breanna Bacala | Grade 12 student at Vincent Massey Collegiate in Pembina Trails School Division |
| Breanna Roussin | Grade 12 student at Balmoral Hall School in Winnipeg |
| Brooklynne Grieger | Grade 10 student at Collège Miles Macdonell Collegiate in River East Transcona School Division |
| Bunny Davis-Holstein | Grade 12 student at Technical Vocational High School in Winnipeg School Division |
| Celena Atchison | Grade 11 student at Seven Oaks Met School in Seven Oaks School Division |
| Christyna Caldwell | Grade 12 student at Hamiota Collegiate in Park West School Division |
| Clark Kernaghan | Grade 12 student at École Kelvin High School in Winnipeg School Division |
| Eric Wang | Grade 10 student at St. John’s-Ravenscourt School in Winnipeg |
| Heavendeep Kaur Nandwal | Grade 12 student at Glenlawn Collegiate in Louis Riel School Division |
| Janik Grenier | Grade 12 student at École régionale Notre-Dame in Division scolaire franco-manitobaine |
| Joshua Nienhuis | Grade 11 student at Springfield Collegiate Institute in Sunrise School Division |
| Kamryn Brown | Grade 12 student at R.D. Parker Collegiate in the School District of Mystery Lake |
| Katherine Dueck | Grade 12 student at Green Valley School in Hanover School Division |
| Kaydon Laurin | Graduate of the Class of 2021 at Murdoch MacKay Collegiate in River East Transcona School Division |
| Lenea Perrin | Grade 9 student at Steinbach Regional Secondary School in Hanover School Division |
| Lily Rich | Grade 11 student at Balmoral Hall School in Winnipeg |
| Namirembe Afatsawo | Grade 10 student at Margaret Barbour Collegiate Institute in Kelsey School Division |
| Pearl Janman | Grade 9 student at Dakota Collegiate in Louis Riel School Division |
| Rania Ibrahim | Grade 11 student at University of Winnipeg Collegiate in Winnipeg |
| Rebecca Cheasley | Grade 11 student at Birtle Collegiate Institute in Park West School Division |
| Ryan Malabanan | Grade 11 student at Sisler High School in Winnipeg School Division |
| Skylar MacLean | Grade 10 student at Westwood Collegiate in St. James-Assiniboia School Division |
| Suroor Ajani | Grade 11 student at Erickson Collegiate Institute in Rolling River School Division |
| Tairan He | Grade 11 student at Vincent Massey High School in Brandon School Division |
| Vuk Roca | Grade 11 student at Garden City Collegiate in Seven Oaks School Division |
Status
Established July 2021.
2024/2025 Student Advisory Council Infographic ( 233 KB)
With diverse interests, identities, backgrounds, and perspectives from across Manitoba, the council’s make-up reflects the diversity of the student population throughout the province.
How to Apply
Eligibility
Council members will
- be Manitoba residents
- are in grades 9 to 12 as of September 1 in the school year in which they serve
- represent the diversity of Manitoba students
- have an interest in issues related to education
- have the ability to work with other people and on a team
- engage in respectful, open discussions, and be accepting of differing viewpoints
- be willing and able to serve for a one-year term and attend council meetings
Report of the Student Advisory Council
The 2023/24 council participated in seven meetings and engagements, covering topics such as as Manitoba’s kindergarten to grade 12 anti-racism policy framework, class sizes, poverty in education, in-school nutrition, smartphone use in schools, pronoun use, promoting the student advisory council, COVID-19, emergency preparedness, and mental health and well-being in schools.
The council also participated in virtual and in-person discussions with the Minister. The annual report ( 2.9 MB) outlines how members
- participated in discussions and consultations to provide input on various aspects of the education system, and how they affect the children and young people who use them
- brought their insights to the department to help inform their work
- provided feedback on department projects and worked collaboratively with fellow council members to provide input into education-related projects and initiatives
At their final in-person meeting, council members presented the 2023/24 annual report to the Minister and received formal certificates to recognize their contributions to the council.
Past Annual Reports to Minister
Report of the Student Advisory Council - August 2023 ( 2.02 MB)
Report of the Student Advisory Council - August 2022 ( 177 KB)
Inaugural Student Advisory Council Video
Student Testimonials
"The experience on the Student Advisory Council has truly been eye-opening. It has shown me that we have gone far too long without hearing marginalized voices in the decision-making process and I am glad that this historic council has and will continue to change that," said Bijan, former Student Advisory Council co-chair. "I would highly encourage students to take the step of becoming advocates and aid in helping create positive change on a provincial level. The ability you have to create change just by sharing your own perspective of the education system is incredible."
"Being on the Student Advisory Council is an honour! As a northern resident, I feel grateful to have the opportunity to advocate for the region," said Namirembe, who has been a member of the council for three years. "It has also been my belief that those directly affected by something should be given the opportunity to provide their insight. When it comes to education, this does not just include teachers and principals, but it also includes students. This is why having a council such as this in place is significant. I have been on this council for the last three years and I cannot wait to see what the future holds!"
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to apply to be on the Student Advisory Council?
Manitoba youth in grades 9 to 12 as of September 1 in the school year in which they serve .
What will the Student Advisory Council do?
The Student Advisory Council will provide insights and advice to the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning and departmental staff regarding issues/topics that are current and emerging for Manitoba Kindergarten to Grade 12 students.
What are the criteria on which applications will be reviewed?
Manitoba youth can apply to be part of the Student Advisory Council. Students will submit the application and answer questions that are included on the application form. Members must:
- reside in Manitoba
- be in grades 9 to 12 as of September 1 in the school year in which they serve
- represent the diversity of Manitoba students
- have an interest in issues related to education
- have the ability to work with other people and on a team
- engage in respectful, open discussions, and be accepting of differing viewpoints
- be willing and able to serve for a one-year term and attend council meetings
What is the time commitment?
The Student Advisory Council is expected to meet at least four times within its one-year mandate; however, there may also be sub-meetings to attend. The first meeting of the 2024/25 Student Advisory Council is anticipated to occur in September 2024.
Who will the Student Advisory Council report to?
The Student Advisory Council will report to the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning.
What responsibilities would Student Advisory Council members have?
Student Advisory Council members will be responsible for
- attending meetings
- participating in discussions/consultations to provide input to the Minister and department staff on aspects of the education system and how they affect the children and young people who use them
- bringing youth insights to the department and other education partners to help inform our work
- providing feedback to requests on department products (for example, surveys/discussion papers)
- working collaboratively with fellow council members to provide input into education-related projects/initiatives
What benefit would I get from serving on the Student Advisory Council?
Members of the council will have a chance to develop and demonstrate leadership skills, experience sitting on a council, meet and work with diverse youth and education stakeholders, and contribute to improving K-12 education in Manitoba. Each member will receive a formal recognition certificate signed by the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning confirming their participation at the end of their term.
Will members' expenses related to attending Student Advisory Council meetings be covered?
Yes. Members shall be paid reasonable travelling and other out-of-pocket expenses, not to exceed guidelines set out in the Government of Manitoba General Manual of Administration, which are incurred in discharging duties in connection with the council.
If you have questions about the Student Advisory Council, you may email them to SRUnit@gov.mb.ca.
