Age: 16
In July 2024, Mekal Faris Umair co-founded the Youth Policy Council (YPC), one of Alberta’s first youth-run public-policy think tanks.
YPC aims to galvanize students around civic processes and policymaking and help equip youth with the skills and knowledge to become active, informed citizens and leaders.
As co-chair of the board of directors of YPC, Umair and his team personally connected with all of the top five candidates in the 2025 mayoral election and hosted a series of fireside chats that had between 40 to 60 young attendees, proving that youth want to be informed and involved — they just need the opportunity. YPC has also written papers on housing and civic engagement.
Through debate and Model UN, Umair exercises his critical thinking skills and expand his understanding. “It’s really good to be able to see different perspectives,” he says.
