RANKIN INLET - A Rankin Inlet teen will take part in a youth leadership and project-development workshop in Regina, Sask., this coming week.

Shelly Nichol, 15, and RCMP Const. Dave Brown will attend a youth leadership and project-development workshop in Regina, Sask., this coming week. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

The program is being hosted by the National Youth Advisory Committee.

The committee has been operated by the RCMP's National Youth Services for the past three years.

Shelly Nichol, 15, will accompany RCMP Const. Dave Brown to the four-day workshop.

Nichol said she became interested in the program because her teacher and some others in her class thought she'd be a good candidate.

She said she's a little nervous and excited as the trip draws near.

"I'm looking forward to meeting people my own age from across Canada and passing on what I learn at the Rankin schools," said Nichol.

"These programs can make a difference in the community, because some kids keep everything inside instead of talking about it.

"My family supports me in this, and I'd like to see more of these programs start in Rankin because there's a need for them here."

Brown said Nichol and another youth from V Division will be working with youth aged 14 to 18 from across Canada.

He said the majority of RCMP divisions in the country will be sending a representative.

"I'm not 100 per cent sure if every position is filled, but there's going to be a lot of youth there," said Brown.

"We received news of this a little late, but we conducted interviews with interested youth at the school to select our applicant.

"Shelly had a good interview and was well-spoken.

"And, she wasn't shy about returning to Rankin and implementing an action plan at the local schools with me to identify youth issues that need to be discussed here."

Brown said the focus of the workshop is to identify youth crime and victimization issues that exist in a community, and come up with an action plan to address them.

He said the youth will often work in teams at the gathering to put the information they receive into a workable plan.

"We'll put it all together and try to come up with a new and different action plan for Rankin.

"We have to adapt to how local youth are acting and address the issues they're dealing with.

"Bullying has become a hot topic recently in Rankin, and we've been seeing a little more teenage drinking lately.

"But there's a good sense of community spirit in Rankin and that's a good foundation we can build upon."