City of Cranbrook Mayor Wayne Stetski had to share the gavel during Monday night’s council meeting.

Seated to His Worship’s right June 9 was Mount Baker Secondary School Grade 11 student Burke Bidder, serving as the city’s first-ever ‘youth mayor.’

She banged the gavel to begin the meeting at its 6 p.m. start time and assisted Stetski in working through the agenda.

“It has been quite interesting and insightful,” she said following the meeting, adding she learned a lot about the city before giving a plug for the upcoming Youth Ambassador Pageant on Friday, June 20 at Key City Theatre, as well as for Sam Steele Days, June 19-22.

Stetski thanked Burke for her time and interest and told council he kept her busy through the day.

“I turned her loose on my email. I also gave her stacks of paper work to go through,” he said, before presenting her with her meeting nameplate.

Stetski explained the city has been trying to find ways to engage youth in civic affairs and the idea to have a ‘youth mayor for a day’ was hatched.

It’s a busy time for Burke who is also one of seven young ladies in the running for Sam Steele Sweetheart/Princess. Cranbrook Sunrise Rotary is her pageant sponsor.

You can catch her turn as Cranbrook’s co-mayor on Shaw Cable at 6 p.m. June 10.

There was also a somber moment at start of the meeting, as Stetski filled in for the absent pastoral invocation. He chose to ask for a moment of silence for the three RCMP officers killed in the line of duty in Moncton, NB, and for that community.

Pictured: At left, Coun. Denise Pallesen, Youth Mayor Burke Bidder, Mayor Wayne Stetski and Coun. Diana J Scott.

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