A Lacombe student has been rubbing shoulders with Canada’s political elite in Ottawa this week, hoping to win a chance to do the same with world leaders next month.
Tyson Phillips is one of six young Albertans taking part in the National Youth Ambassador Caucus starting today and ending Wednesday.
He and his fellow Albertans are vying for two spots to represent the province at the G8/G20 summits in Ontario on June 25-27.
“It’s very competitive,” Phillips, 20, said of the caucus that tests the 100 participants’ leadership and negotiation skills.
The second-year biology student at Canadian University College thinks he has an edge, since he stands out from the rest of his fellow ambassadors, most of whom study political science.
He’s hard at work to win a chance to meet with international youth delegations and interact with world leaders at the summits in Toronto and Muskoka.
But even if he doesn’t make it, Phillips will come home from the caucus with the memories of a lifetime.
On Monday, for instance, he and the other youth ambassadors are scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
And because he went to Ottawa earlier this week, he’s been able to attend question period and even several committee meetings.
“It’s all about the experience. It’s an awesome opportunity for me. Right now I’m standing on Capital Hill. I got to meet with some ministers already, and some influential people here. After this, I get to go out and tell people what I’ve experienced,” said Phillips, originally from Beauvallon.
“It’s something I’m not exposed to every day. I grew up on a farm, so it’s a big change.”
Phillips wants to go to medical school and is thinking about a career possibly in international medicine with the World Health Organization or Doctors Without Borders.
He said people need to recognize the importance of events like the G8/G20 summits, where leaders of economic powerhouses discuss major world issues.
“If people aren’t interested in these affairs, there’s going to be no change,” Phillips said.
He finds out next week if he made the cut.
mgauk@www.reddeeradvocate.com