Canwood Student Tye Vaughan Elected Rural Voice for SRSC

A Grade 11 student from Canwood Public School, Tye Vaughan, has been elected as the new rural representative on the Saskatchewan Rivers Students for Change (SRSC) for the 2025-2026 term. This announcement was made during a regular meeting of the Saskatchewan Rivers School Division Board of Education on October 20, 2023.

Vaughan expressed his motivation for stepping into this role, stating his desire to represent the perspectives of rural students at the board level. “I was interested in representing the rural students at the board meetings,” he said. He emphasized the importance of the student voice in decision-making processes, noting, “I think that’s really important.”

In his second year on the SRSC, Vaughan joined the organization in Grade 10. He highlighted that the group has already outlined key issues they plan to address following their initial meeting and elections. Among these is an increased focus on career support for students. Last year, the SRSC produced a series of videos aimed at helping students navigate their post-secondary options, whether in work or education.

Building Connections and Addressing Challenges

During the meeting, Vaughan provided a report on the SRSC’s initiatives to foster relationships among schools and clarify the roles of its executive members. He stated, “We’re working on the meaning of belonging because we’ve seen in our survey that a lot of students didn’t feel a sense of belonging at school.” This concern aligns with a noticeable trend of declining student participation in sports and extracurricular activities.

Vaughan also pointed out challenges regarding student achievement, particularly in mathematics. “We have very low math averages in Saskatchewan, particularly, so we’re working on looking back at why that is happening,” he explained. The SRSC’s student survey has proven valuable in identifying trends and areas for improvement across the school division.

“It’s very helpful because it’s school division wide,” Vaughan noted. “We see all of the numbers about a whole bunch of different things. It’s really good to gather information and kind of pick what we’re going to work towards each year.” He acknowledged the importance of flexibility in adapting their focus based on evolving student needs throughout the year.

Support from Educational Leaders

Director of Education Neil Finch expressed enthusiasm for having Vaughan serve as the rural board representative. “It’s always exciting to have our student voice around the table,” Finch remarked. “Our students see things with a different perspective than the adults sitting around the table, and the reason they’re there is because we respect and acknowledge their voice. Having Tye there is an exciting start to the year.”

In addition to Vaughan’s election, Abby Ellis from Victor Thunderchild Public High School has been elected as the urban representative. Ellis was unable to attend the meeting on October 20 but remains an integral part of the SRSC team.

With Vaughan’s leadership and the SRSC’s commitment to addressing key issues, the organization is poised to make a meaningful impact on the educational landscape in Saskatchewan.