Grade Six student Ashlyn W. was named the winner of the Mayor for a Day Challenge at Monday afternoon's city council meeting.

The Mayor for a Day Challenge is in collaboration with the City as well as local schools. It is an annual contest that provides Grade six students and their schools an opportunity to learn about municipal government and share their innovative ideas on ways to improve the community.

"The outcome is that by participating in the Mayor for a Day Challenge, students have a stronger connection to their community and have a better understanding of how the City plans and prepares for current and future projects," the City stated.

This year, 21 Grade six students from eight different schools applied for the challenge - an increase from last year's applications according to the City. The top three finalists presented their ideas of how to improve the community during a council meeting in late April. 

Ashlyn's idea was a plan for a pollinator garden in Airdrie. Such a garden would increase pollination by planting flowers that provide nectar or pollen for all sorts of pollinating insects (not just bees if you please). 

"Increasing pollination can reduce soil erosion, produce oxygen produce soil nutrition and remove toxic waste from the air," stated Madison Broussard, a member of The Airdrie Board of Youth Affairs (ABYA). 

ABYA participated in the Mayor for a Day challenge throughout the review process and short-listed the top three finalists.

"Ashlyn wanted to find a way to help bees endangered while supporting local pollination which is crucial to protecting our ecosystem," added Alex, another member of ABYA. "Ashlyn was inspired by her own pollinator garden in Saskatchewan."

Jessica Dudek Youth Engagement Programmer at the City of Airdrie added that next week, on June 15, Ashlyn along with members of ABYA with support from the City's Parks Department will participate in planting a pollinator garden at East Lake in celebration of National Pollinator Week. 

"Ashlyn on behalf of ABYA, I want to say thank you for all of your hard work on your application and congratulate you on becoming the 2023 Mayor for a Day successful applicant," Broussard said.

Mayor Brown congratulated Ashlyn and remarked that the presentation she had previously shown Council in late April, particularly the film that she had presented as part of her application had left quite the impression on him.

"The 'bee' movie [as] I call it Ashlyn; it was amazing. That was the first time I think we've ever seen a film directed and scored by grade six students in Airdrie," he said. 

Mayor Brown also extended his congratulations to all the applicants, as well as the runners-up.

"I want to thank them because I would say this was a very close vote. I didn't see the numbers at the end of the day, but all the presenters were really outstanding."

In the near future, Ashlyn will have her official day as Mayor which includes an opportunity to co-chair a Council meeting; attend a lunch with the Mayor; as well as touring different City buildings.

Last year's Mayor for a Day winner was Grade six student Neel M. Neel wanted to find a way to help visually impaired residents feel safer when moving around the community, especially through intersections.

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