This Christmas break, while many teenagers are gaming or sleeping late, one collection of Niverville youth will be undertaking a deep dive into provincial politics.

This year marks the 104th session of Youth Parliament of Manitoba (YPM), a week-long event running from December 26–31.

A handful of Niverville youth have been accepted to participate in the 2025 session, ranging in position from pages to backbenchers to mock cabinet ministers.

Founded in 1922, YPM is the longest-running mock parliament in the world. While supported by the provincial government, it is organized and fully run by Manitobans under the age of 25.

This year’s session has drawn in over 90 members from eight different communities. Registration capacity was reached in less than half the usual time.

For Naomi Sarmiento, a senior at Niverville High School, it will be her second time participating in YPM. Last year she came in as a backbencher. This year she’s pleased with her assignment as the Minister of Public Relations.

Regardless of her position, she says it’s a thrill to be accepted to YPM out of the many youth who apply.

“They need to make sure they’re choosing the right people for it,” Sarmiento says. “The ones that will commit their time throughout the winter break. If [youth] aren’t participating or they don’t feel passionate about using their voice, then we’re losing the opportunity for someone else that may have wanted [to be there].”

Being selected is a relatively stringent process, she says. One must successfully win favour by answering a series of questions. As well, you benefit from proof of active involvement outside of YPM.

Sarmiento is a natural fit, already a vocal advocate for social justice and inclusivity. Currently in her final year of high school, she presides as co-president of the student leadership team and is actively involved on the Student Action Committee.

Last year, Sarmiento organized NHS’s first Asian Heritage Awareness event, inviting a group of Manitoba’s Asian politicians to speak about their culture.

“Youth are very [good at] communicating ideas,” says Sarmiento. “They are also fresh and open to information. [YPM] gives the younger generation a chance to get out there and be more involved.”

She was introduced to YPM through former NHS student Eddy Paez. Paez is back this year, too, as Minister of Labour. It’s her job to oversee the committee responsible for all the meals and banquets during the five-day event.

For Sarmiento, spending a week alongside so many intelligent and passionate youth has influenced her enormously.

“I’ve been interested in politics for a long time now,” Sarmiento says. “I’m going into political science next year after I graduate and then I can go into law.”

The YPM itinerary is intense for these young people. The participants’ off-time during the five days will be spent at Kelvin High School. Every morning they are bussed to the Legislature where they sit in chamber to debate and vote on three bills related to the Senate Reform Act, Alcohol Regulation Act, and Universal Post-Secondary Education Act. In between, they rub shoulders with actual members of the four official parties and learn about the parliamentary process.

“We get to meet them all and have lunch with them. We get to immerse ourselves through conversations and asking questions, which is amazing.”

Each YPG week also includes a Bear Pit session where former politicians are invited to sit with the youth and respond to questions about their careers and views on various political subjects.

“This year we have two NDP alumni, one PC and one Liberal,” says Sarmiento. “[This lets us] have more transparent conversations with people… and they can be more honest because they’re not tied down [by decorum].”

YPM is a non-partisan corporation and registered charity. Its primary purpose is to provide opportunities for young adults to improve their communications skills, learn about the Canadian democratic parliamentary tradition, and meet other like-minded Manitoba youth.

YPM alumni include names like Lloyd Axworthy, Bill Blaikie, Darren Praznik, and Bill Norrie.