Photo supplied by Rural Ontario Institute
A young leader from the Westmeath area has been selected to take part in a provincial program designed to help rural youth develop leadership skills and create positive change in their communities.
Lindsay Shalitis is among 24 participants chosen for the Rural Ontario Institute’s 2026 Rural Change Makers program, which launched this month. The program brings together emerging leaders from rural and northern Ontario for leadership development, experiential learning and community-focused projects.
Shalitis is studying social work and currently works in rural community development and youth programming, with a focus on supporting rural youth mental health.
According to the institute, she hopes to pursue a career supporting rural youth after completing her studies, with a focus on access to services and wrap-around support initiatives.
Shalitis said she is looking forward to being part of the program and connecting with the other Rural Change Makers taking part from across the province.
Over the course of the program, participants will take part in a series of learning labs and experiential opportunities, including an Ignite Action Lab and Rural Youth Summit. They will also complete community and self-assessments and develop SMART action plans to guide leadership projects in their communities.
The Rural Ontario Institute says the program is intended to equip young leaders with practical skills to address complex priorities and help strengthen rural communities across Ontario.
The institute says the Rural Change Makers program has seen a 45 per cent increase in rural youth retention since 2019.
(Steve Berard)
