Content creator, youth advocate chosen as Hamilton’s first Youth of the Year

A social media marketer and content creator with the City of Hamilton and a former president of McMaster University’s Social Sciences Society is the first Hamilton Youth of the Year.

Salsa Sarhan, who earned the honours at Tuesday’s Hamilton Youth Summit, joined the HamOntYouth Steering Committee in 2023 after completing her role as a ‘youth engager.’ Since then, she has racked up the most volunteer hours of any member this year and played an “instrumental role” in the growth of @hamontyouth on Instagram.

Sarhan is a strong advocate for HamOntYouth, both within the community and among her peers, and has also taken on the role of executive member for the planning team. She also recently completed a year as constituency assistant in the Mayor’s Office.

Students from 21 secondary schools from three school boards gathered for the second annual youth summit to participate in youth-led workshops on financial literacy, sustainability and future readiness, listen to a keynote address from middle-distance runner and Canadian Olympian Brandon McBride, enjoy music from pop star Fox Revett and participate in a community fair.

The event, held at the Hamilton-Wentworth Education Centre and created in partnership with the HamOntYouth Steering Committee, is designed by youth for youth, to inform, engage, celebrate, and educate, with a goal of to creating an inclusive and diverse space where all voices are heard and valued.