September’s Awesome Ottawa award goes to the Bytown Museum’s Youth Council, to support the Council’s development of a permanent photo exhibit depicting 100 years of Ottawa’s youth.

“Museums often overlook youth when depicting history,” explain the members of the Youth Council, “be it in wartime, farm life, urban life, or political decisions. Our goal is to bring attention to this ignored demographic group.”

“Young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow, they are the leaders of today. If we can show youth that young people played a part in history, it will inspire them to do great things in the community.”

The Youth Council plans to unveil the exhibit in early 2017. It will also be accompanied by a mini-feature on the Youth Council’s blog.

The Bytown Museum Youth Council is made up of students from high schools, universities, and colleges across Ottawa who have come together to explore the city’s history. The current members are Rosalee Allen, Sophie Burgener, Sarah Cool-Fergus, Jessie Lang, Delany Leitch, Fan Li, Lilia Lockwood, Asmaa Mabrouk, Lindsay MacMillan, Tunmise Olatifede, Marielle Rochefort, Atae Sahmoudi, Julia Schwindt, Beatrix Shackleton, and Carson Turnbull. Their facilitator is Corrie Bouskill.

[P3028: Photo courtesy of the Bytown Museum]