The big boss chair is pretty cool, 12-year-old Kimberley Everett said.
The Grade 7 Mamquam Elementary School student was the winner for the District of Squamish's Mayor for a Day competition. On Tuesday (May 28), she toured municipal hall and helped Mayor Rob Kirkham preside over council's Committee of the Whole meeting.
What snagged Everett the new role was her letter to the municipality. It outlined her concern over Squamish's only movie theatre shutting its doors. The move was a big blow to Everett and her friends, she said, noting when it was open, she would catch a flick almost every Friday.
I am hoping that we get enough people to keep a movie theatre open, Everett said.
With two cats and a dog at home, Everett's attention also fell on Squamish's SPCA branch. The animal-welfare group's facility is cramped, she said.
I would like to give a loan to the Squamish SPCA to help up-size it for more room, Everett wrote in her letter.
Getting to be the boss seems like the fun part of donning the mayor's cap, Everett said. The down side is decision making. With three stepsisters, two stepbrothers and a brother, Everett said she's no stranger to solving disputes. But politics isn't on her career list so far, although becoming Prime Minister of Canada would be cool, she said.
I want to be a nurse, Everett noted.
The Mayor for a Day competition was a part of the district's Local Government Awareness Week. Kirkham visited local schools to speak with students about how a municipality runs. The movie theatre's closure was a popular topic of conversation, Kirkham said.
The local government campaign is a good opportunity to get youth interested in politics, he said. When Kirkham was 12, he wanted to hit the seas and become a sailor. It wasn't until later in life that he developed an appreciation for politics, Kirkham said.
For more information on the district visit www.squamish.ca.
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