Jenelle Yonkman and Emily Gage are just two of 92 teen leaders who gathered in Victoria over the Christmas break to take part in B.C. Youth Parliament.

The parliament took over the B.C. legislature between Christmas and the new year, sitting in chambers, presenting bills and creating change on a theoretical level.

Yonkman is originally from Castlegar and joined BCYP four years ago when she was in Grade 12. Now a University of Victoria student, she is BCYP minister of finance, after spending time as a backbencher and in the shadow cabinet.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a lot of fun,B次元官网网址� said the enthusiastic 20-year-old.

B次元官网网址淚 was always really into debate, thatB次元官网网址檚 how I got involved.B次元官网网址�

A friend introduced Yonkman to BCYP and she was hooked by the planning and service aspects. B次元官网网址淭hat summer there was a major service project in Vancouver and I got really involved, I guess thatB次元官网网址檚 what made it stick for me,B次元官网网址� she said.

Gage, who is from Central Saanich, has been involved with the program for six years.

B次元官网网址淚 started when I was 15, my Grade 11 social studies teacher sent me the application and persuaded me to join,B次元官网网址� the 21-year-old StellyB次元官网网址檚 secondary school grad said.

Youth parliament is in its 83rd year and open to young people between the ages of 16 and 21 from across the province.

ItB次元官网网址檚 a non-partisan organization that creates projects to help improve the lives of young people. It also organizes regional youth parliaments, which are designed for 14-18 year olds that are run in different regions of B.C. in order to allow more youth to experience education in parliamentary procedures.

B次元官网网址淲e make our own legislation for our service projects, we vote on the plans so we can carry them out in the future,B次元官网网址� said Gage.

This year the group debated private memberB次元官网网址檚 resolutions on real-world problems.

B次元官网网址淲e had one (resolution) in opposition to Occupy and one in support of giving all RCMP officers (stun guns). We canB次元官网网址檛 actually institute change, but we can send letters to heads of government,B次元官网网址� Gage said.

Each year the BCYP plans a major project and this year the youth are planning the Western Canada Youth Parliament.

WCYP is held every two years for the members of youth parliaments from B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. B.C. will host this yearB次元官网网址檚 parliament.

Richmond East MLA Linda Reid officially opened the B.C Youth Parliament as lieutenant-governor this year and is an alumni as well.

B次元官网网址淚 joined on the cusp of it becoming BCYP,B次元官网网址� said Reid. Previously it was the Older Boys Parliament, only open to males.

B次元官网网址淭hey were resistant to my girlfriend and I joining up,B次元官网网址� said Reid, an MLA since 1991. Her friend, Susan Hunter, became the first female premier of youth parliament and Reid the second.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an organization with tremendous heart,B次元官网网址� said Reid. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 something I want my kids to experience. The way I put it to my kids is: service is the rent you pay to be on this earth. To give to others and to help others.B次元官网网址�