Saskatchewan Youth Parliament (SYP) began to meet in 1912 under the auspices of the Methodist Church. The organization had a shaky beginning and dissolved after the first few years of existence.
In 1923, SYP was reborn when an organization for Christian boys, the T.U.X.I.S. movement, was introduced to local churches and YMCA’s across Canada. That Christmas, the first session of Saskatchewan Youth Parliament was held and sponsored by the United Church of Canada. SYP sessions continue to be held in the chambers of the Saskatchewan Legislature.
The 8th and 9th sessions of the TUXIS parliament were separated by fifteen years due to the Great Depression and the outbreak of World War II. As a result, Parliament did not reconvene until 1945. It was at this time that the youth Parliament began to entertain heated debate about the admittance of females and non-Christians into the organization. Also at this time, the roles of many of the Cabinet Ministers were created and defined.
Although, today, Saskatchewan Youth Parliament discusses issues of current regional and national concerns, the TUXIS Parliament of the time did not; instead, much of the debate focused on Cabinet and the governing of the TUXIS organization, much like actual government legislation.
As the Youth Parliament began to return to traditional debate, controversy arose in 1959 with the introduction of a resolution permitting females to join the organization; however, the movement towards the admittance of females was delayed as the Christian Girls In Training, the female equivalent of the TUXIS, was seen as a separate entity that should have its own Parliament. Debate was also heated over the proposal to admit non-Christians as Members of Parliament. As the TUXIS movement began to lose its influence, the Youth Parliaments name was changed to Saskatchewan Older Boys’ Parliament. Although this change in name signified the initial step towards broadening the scope of the Membership, it was not until 1972 that both women and non-Christian Members were allowed to be permanent sitting and voting Members of the House. By this time the organization was known as Saskatchewan Youth Parliament, a name it retains to this day.
In 1987, Saskatchewan Youth Parliament celebrated its 75th Anniversary at a reunion celebration, which united generations of Youth Parliamentarians. This led to the initial draft of the Constitution and the Standing Orders in 1988. The 60th Session of Saskatchewan Youth Parliament was held in 1996 and marked the first time that the Lieutenant Governor was on hand for the Opening of the session in Regina over the Christmas Holidays.
In 2012, Saskatchewan Youth Parliament celebrated its 100th anniversary with a special Session that allowed alumni from as far back as 1946 to join together to celebrate the organizations many achievements and remember the many good times the SYP had given members.
Saskatchewan Youth Parliament has a long history of providing the leaders of our country and province. Not only are many Members of the Saskatchewan Legislature alumni of SYP, but the organization has also seen many of its Members become prominent political leaders, including former Primer Minister John Diefenbaker, former Premier Lorne Calvert, former Federal Finance Minister and current High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ralph Goodale, and former Lieutenant Governor, Gordon Barnhart.
Members have also gone to lead successful careers in a wide range of non-political fields such as education, journalism, engineering, and business.
Developing Saskatchewan’s Leaders
Saskatchewan Youth Parliament 