Sessional Date: March 11 – 13, 2022

Location: Zoom teleconference

Contact: lmyp@bcyp.org

Membership Application Deadline: March 4, 2022

Cabinet, Shadow and Member applications have closed. Check back next year for updates!

Ava Christiansen | Premier

Ava Christiansen is a Grade 11 student at South Delta Secondary and a first-year British Columbia Youth Parliament Member. She is the Premier of the 1st Lower Mainland Youth Parliament. Outside of Youth Parliament, Ava enjoys helping out her community by volunteering at her local Parliament building. She also works with council members of the Corporation of Delta to bring a youth perspective to the historical towns where she lives, as well as dances at Deas Island Dance where she has been dancing for 12 years. In her free time, she plays the flute, listens to podcasts, drinks bubble tea, plays video games, obsesses over The Office, and more. She is a Dwight Schrute but mixed with Jim Halpert, according to her peers.

Jessica Zhang | Leader of the Opposition

Jessica Zhang is in her second year of RYPs and is beyond excited to serve as the Leader of the Opposition for the Lower Mainland Youth Parliament. As a Grade 11 student at Mulgrave School, Jessica is the President of the UNICEF Club and an avid member of the Co-Curricular Council. Outside of school, Jessica does competitive speech and debate nationally and internationally, is a hospital volunteer, and is a researcher at Science World. In her free time, Jessica enjoys hiking, golfing, taking photos of pretty skies with her terrible camera quality, and, most importantly, binge-watch anime while drinking bubble tea. This year, Jessica is looking forward to meeting all the new Members who will one day become inspirational leaders of tomorrow.

Rhonda Vanderfluit | Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and Sessional Director

Rhonda Vanderfluit is the LMYP Speaker and the current BCYP Registrar. She was previously on Senate in 1993, 1995 and 1997-2003, and rejoined Senate in 2011 after an 8-year absence. She has previously served as Senate Chair, Chief Returning Officer, Secretary, and Alumni Affairs Director. She served repeatedly as Head Clerk, Assistant Clerk and was honoured to be the Speaker of the 73rd BC Youth Parliament. A member of the 57th-62nd Sessions, Rhonda held the portfolios of Attorney General, Camp Phoenix, Provincial Secretary, Lower Mainland, Deputy Minister of the Interior, was on Shadow Cabinet and has attended Western Canada Youth Parliament. Rhonda used to be a high school teacher and is now a family physician at Bayswater Family Practice in Vancouver. Rhonda attended Western Canada Youth Parliament in 1987 in Victoria and is thrilled to be involved in CYP this year.

Jessana Akehurst | Deputy Speaker

Jessana Akehurst is currently a second-year student at McGill University, studying Political Science and Gender, Sexuality & Feminist Studies. She is in her fourth year in BCYP and is serving as the Minister of State and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Community Development. She is also excited to be serving as the Deputy Speaker of the Lower Mainland Youth Parliament for the first time! Outside of Youth Parliament, Jessana enjoys making music and art, theatre, volunteering, fashion, or giving out gold star stickers. She can also be found talking about politics or the environment quite passionately. Jessana looks forward to LMYP and ensuring that all members have a wonderful session!

Karina Valcke-Beckett | Clerk of the Legislative Assembly

Karina Valcke-Beckett is a sixth-year BCYP member and Leader of the Opposition for the 93rd Session. After being both the Minister of the Lower Mainland and Service in past Parliaments, she is excited to be back as Clerk of the Legislative Assembly for the 2nd LMYP.

Outside of BCYP, she is a fourth-year Honours Political Science student at the University of British Columbia, currently studying topics related to federalism and climate policy in the United States and Canada. She also works part-time as a barista at Starbucks, as well as a research assistant at UBC.

In her spare time, she can be found exploring local tropical plant nurseries with the Premier or raising the mason bees in her backyard. Her favourite summer camp activity as a kid was always (and still is!) Capture the Flag.

Clerk Assistant | Abby Head

Abby Head is originally from Powell River, BC, and is currently in her third year at the University of British Columbia where she is Majoring in Political Science and Minoring in Law and Society. Abby is returning for her fifth year of BCYP and is serving as the Minister of Camp Phoenix and the Minister of Donor Engagement. Having previously served as Minister of Finance, Minister of Donor Engagement, and Critic of Public Relations & New Member Relations, she is excited to take on the role of Clerk Assistant for LMYP.

Outside of YP, Abby works as a Communications Coordinator and as a Choreographer, and you can often find her listening to sad music or drinking copious amounts of coffee.

As a child, Abby loved art and anything creative!

Clerk Assistant | Zara Herbert

Zara Herbert is a fourth-year student studying Kinesiology at the University of British Columbia. This will mark her sixth and final year as a member of BCYP, and she has previously attended BCYP Sessions prior to becoming a Member while serving as Sergeant-at-Arms and as a Page. Zara has been on BCYP's Cabinet as Provincial Secretary, Minister of Internet Communications, Minister of Fundraising, Attorney General, and now as Deputy Premier. This year, she is excited to take on the role of Assistant Clerk! Outside of Youth Parliament, Zara does synchronized swimming as an athlete for UBC Artistic Swimming and is currently on their club Executive Team as Travel and Safety Officer. For work, she is a lifeguard and a synchronized swimming coach. Some of Zara’s interests include travelling, binge-watching Netflix, and adding to her excessive tea collection.

Marika Leigh Lopez | Chair

Marika is entering her second year of BCYP and will be serving as the Chair of the 2nd LMYP, after serving as the Critic of Provincial Secretary and Fundraising of the 93rd BCYP. She is a 2nd year student at KPU and is majoring in Criminology. Outside of BCYP, you can find Marika, volunteering in her respective communities, spreading seizure awareness both in-person and online (via IG @seizure_soldiers and FB page Seizure Soldiers), reading a book or laws for fun! Feel free to send her an email/text if you would like to chat, have any questions, or have any book recommendations!

Wesley Yiu | Chief Returning Officer and Sergeant-at-Arms

Wesley is grateful and excited to be returning to the world of regional youth parliaments, this time serving as your Chief Returning Officer. Wesley’s first parliamentary experience was five years ago, and he has had a great time at BCYP, having served two years in shadow cabinet. As a first-year business student at Simon Fraser University, Wesley claims he is always busy with the “intense business school workload”. However, he is often seen playing Minecraft or binging a new Anime series. At times, you can also find Wesley within his local air cadet squadron, where he serves as the squadron commander.