Community health board embraces youth perspective

Cape Breton resident Jemma Bowers joined Northside the Lakes Community Health Board and quickly discovered the value of her voice in shaping services and opportunities. 

Admittedly nervous when the 17year-old student first joined in December, Jemma didn’t know what to expect. She quickly embraced the perspective of who better to speak up on behalf of young people than a young person. 

“Having a voice in the room means being able to shape programs that truly make a difference,” she says. “The people I’ve worked with have been incredibly welcoming and serving on this board has given me a behind-the-scenes look at how things really operate.”

She and her family made Nova Scotia home after leaving her native Cape Town, South Africa. They saw Canada as a chance to better pursue personal and life goals.

This year, Jemma graduated from high school in North Sydney and is now studying medical science at Dalhousie University in Halifax. She’s still contemplating career plans but an undergrad in medical science will be her foundation.

Biology and chemistry were popular high school subjects for her. But specialized topics like psychology proved even more intriguing.

“I've always known I had a strong interest in helping people and finding ways to support them,” she explains. “Growing up, my mom had a deep passion for medicine, even though she never formally studied it. She was the one who told us what medicine can do and how to care for others when they weren’t feeling well.”

Jemma hopes more people choose to get involved in boards in communities where they live. She says it’s a chance to make an impact and not stand on the sidelines.

The health board vacancy was mentioned during her school announcements and, being curious, decided to inquire about the details. That led to her attending a meeting and staying with it.

“Honestly, I’m not even sure what I expected at first. I thought it might be something like health food, or maybe focused on medicine, hospital regulations, or even something more clinical. I really didn’t know,” she says.

Jemma learned it was about more than that: the community health board was offering funding to non-profits and supporting community.

“It opened my eyes to the fact that health isn’t just physical. It can be mental, emotional, even financial. That broader understanding of what health really means is what I loved most about being part of the health board."

Still a member of the board, she considers it inspiring.

“It’s given me valuable insight into what happens behind the scenes and how we can offer meaningful support to others,” she adds.

Jemma believes everyone has abilities to create meaningful change and, even through small actions, those efforts carry importance and can make a difference.

 “Learning how to contribute from behind the scenes and witnessing the impact and endless possibilities of that support is something I’ll always carry with me,” she says.

“It definitely helped me realize that career opportunities in health aren’t just limited to doctors and nurses. There are so many other roles in medical care that I wouldn’t have learned about had I not attended those meetings."

Photo of Jemma Bowers.