For one day, Grade 9 student Nemah Nihal traded the classroom for City Hall and discovered that being mayor involves much more than attending meetings and cutting ribbons.
Nihal was selected as Chestermere's 2026 Mayor for a Day, a program designed to give local students in Grades 7 through 12 an opportunity to learn how municipal government works while sharing ideas to improve the community. The initiative challenged students to submit proposals focused on enhancing the well-being of Chestermere residents.
The experience included a mock inauguration, meetings with Mayor Shannon Dean and municipal staff, tours of city facilities, and opportunities to learn how decisions are made in one of Alberta's fastest-growing communities.
For Nihal, one of the biggest surprises was discovering just how demanding the role can be.
"I did not expect it to be such a busy job, honestly," she said. "Chestermere is growing, but I didn't think it would be that big."
Throughout the day, she met with municipal officials, community partners, and representatives from organizations that help keep the city running. The experience offered a behind-the-scenes look at how local government balances growth, infrastructure, recreation, and community services.
One of the highlights of the day came during a visit to the Chestermere Fire Department.
Nihal climbed aboard one of the department's fire trucks, drawing plenty of smiles from firefighters and city staff. She said learning about the department's operations left a lasting impression.
"I've never gone there before," she said. "They said there's never a day when they don't have a call coming."
The visit helped illustrate the pressures facing emergency services as Chestermere continues to expand.
Outside of school, Nihal is already committed to helping others. She volunteers as a candy striper at Peter Lougheed Centre in Calgary, an experience that aligns with her long-term goal of pursuing a career in medicine.
While she enjoyed serving as mayor for a day, politics is not part of her future plans.
Instead, she hopes to study neurology or neurosurgery, fields that reflect her fascination with the human brain.
"There's a lot that goes on in the human mind," she said.
Nihal earned the opportunity by proposing the creation of a youth hub in Chestermere. Before developing the idea, she spoke with elementary and high school students throughout the community to learn what they felt was missing.
"I went around and asked kids in elementary school and at my school what they wanted for the community," she said. "The main thing that I got was they wanted someplace to go after school."
Her vision goes beyond simply providing a place to gather. She envisions a facility offering structured programs and opportunities for learning, including cooking classes, coding workshops, and guest speakers.
"The youth hub would be a place where you can hang out, but there would be different activities like cooking classes, coding classes or talks going on during the day, so everybody's entertained, and there's learning going on in a fun way," she said.
Mayor Shannon Dean said the proposal resonated with discussions already taking place within the city.
He noted that Chestermere has been exploring concepts related to community gathering spaces and non-profit services, and said Nihal's proposal brought a valuable youth perspective to the conversation.
"I can foresee us looking at some of the ideas that have been brought forward today and incorporating them into some of the things we're doing," Dean said.
Dean also praised Nihal's confidence and professionalism throughout the experience.
"The confidence that this young woman has is pretty incredible," he said. "It's been an absolute pleasure turning over the job to her."
For Nihal, the day provided a unique opportunity to learn how local government functions. For city leaders, it offered a reminder that some of the community's best ideas can come from its youngest residents.