By Sana Khan
Somerset ward finally has its new representative for the Ottawa Youth Cabinet, a position vacant since November.
Nathan Hauch, 20, was chosen as the new member on Feb. 21, his birthday.
“The cabinet is great in its capacity to include youth to come to the table and be a part of the decisions that affect their lives,” he said.
Although he only attended his first meeting on Tuesday, Hauch is already planning on working with Somerset ward Coun. Elisabeth Arnold on a youth open house for the ward.
“I’m delighted that we were able to attract someone of that calibre to serve on the committee,” said Arnold.
The youth cabinet is an advisory committee modeled on city council. There are 21 representatives, one for each ward, who work with their ward councillor and make recommendations to city council and committees.
The Somerset ward position was left vacant in November when the former representative failed to attend three consecutive meetings. The position was advertised in early January, and Hauch heard about it through his involvement on the Wellness Project – an initiative to improve services and meet the needs of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community in Ottawa.
Although Hauch says he brings no agenda to the cabinet, his first-hand experience as a youth with a disability will bring a new perspective.
Hauch, who has cerebral palsy and uses a scooter, is the only disabled member of the cabinet. But despite his young age and his disability, Hauch has a long record of activity in the community.
Hauch has been active in advocacy work for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community. He is the outreach co-ordinator for Pink Triangle Services, which was one of the organizations behind the Wellness Project.
Hauch has also been a mentor for disabled youth and is involved in anti-poverty issues. He plans to attend either Carleton University or the University of Ottawa in September.
Arnold said Hauch’s background in community work and his experience as a youth living with a disability are valuable to the youth cabinet.
“Accessibility issues are important for the city, but I think we tend to forget there are disability issues for young people too,” said Arnold.
“We sometimes tend to picture disability issues only being associated with adults,” she said.
Hauch is extremely hard of hearing. He is deaf in his right ear and wears a hearing aid in his left. When Hauch was three, he moved to Ottawa with his family from New Jersey. He underwent treatment in the audiology program at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. Hauch says he has always been grateful for the opportunity. Had his family stayed in New Jersey, he may not have received the same level and quality of care. And that is partly why he is so motivated to be active in the community.
Hauch says that the youth of today are cynical because things like health care, education and transportation are suffering. He thinks youth want to become more involved in their cities to help improve those issues.
“Institutions and beliefs that we strived so hard for and that in a sense are a part of the Canadian identity are slowly being taken away,” he said.
“There has been such a long time of them being slowly taken away that people are starting to listen, and I saw this as a tremendous opportunity to encourage dialogue.”