Bracebridge Mayor Graydon Smith is holding a special meeting this week with the town’s future voters.
The town is currently taking part in Local Government Week, an initiative designed to offer area students a chance to learn more about how their local governments work. As part of the week’s festivities, Smith will be speaking to students at Monck Public School on Friday, October 19 about how municipal governments function. He also extended an invitation for other town councillors to join him.
“It’s a week to work with young people, primarily to try and impart on them the importance and accessibility of local government,” said Smith. “It’s our week to shine.”
Local Government Week is an initiative developed by the province, the Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario.
Though Local Government Week does not coincide with scheduled council meetings this year at the Township of Muskoka Lakes, the township noted that its municipal offices are open for student tours at any time of the year. Schools can also invite Mayor Alice Murphy or members of council speak in their classroom, giving students an opportunity to ask questions of their local politicians.
But when contacted last week, municipal clerk Cheryl Mortimer said the township has not received a response to the offers.