HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-02-05, Page 7The final recipients of the 2008Ontario Junior Citizen of the YearAwards are a cross section ofindividuals who are making adifference to both their hometownsand communities around the globe.
They are an inspiring and
determined group who not only see a
need, but rise to the challenge and
contribute their time and energy to
making improvements. Their
leadership skills are evident.
Abbas Homayed, President of the
Ontario Community Newspapers
Association (OCNA), is extremely
pleased to see the strong sense of
community instilled in this group of
outstanding young people.
“To see such commitment and
dedication to the people and groups
within their cities and towns at such
a young age is very impressive,” said
Homayed. “We are very proud to be
recognizing the achievements of this
group of final recipients, as well as
all the nominees, in our community
newspapers across Ontario.”
The Awards Ceremony will be
officiated by Honourable David C.
Onley, Lieutenant Governor of
Ontario, at Queen’s Park on March
3. The final recipients and their
immediate families will be invited to
this special presentation in Toronto.
The Ontario Junior Citizen of the
Year Awards are run through the 322
member newspapers of OCNA with
the support of our sponsor TD
Canada Trust. Nominations of
eligible youth, ages 6 to 17, are
received each fall through member
community newspapers committed
to recognizing outstanding youth
who are making a difference in their
communities. A panel of volunteer
judges must unanimously decide on
the final recipients.
This year there were 117nominees from across Ontario, whoare being recognized withcertificates of recognition by theirlocal community newspapers.Avinash Balsingh: 12,
Scarborough: Touched by how many
people are suffering in his city, Avi
decided to do something about it.
This compassionate youngster
started a project termed his
Homeless Drive four years ago. Avi
had donated more than 100 blankets,
40 comforters, sleeping bags, hats
and gloves and over $500 to Street to
Homes to help families in need. As
he would say, “Even small people
can make a difference if they try.”
Eden Beaudin, 9, M’Chigeeng
First Nation (Manitoulin Island):
Eden’s passion for writing has
inspired her to encourage other
children to write as well. After
writing and self-publishing her first
book, she developed and co-
ordinated The Pegasus Literary
Writing Award. With local school
support and ads in the newspaper,
Eden raised more than $1,000 on her
own. She used that money to host an
award ceremony, provide food for
those attending, and to give away
prizes.
Andrew Cameron, 15, Guelph:
Despite a very painful disability that
results in multiple joint dislocations
each day, Andrew perseveres to be
an active and involved teenager.
With Internet technology he is able
to attend high school from home
using a Webcam which has been
wholeheartedly accepted by his
classmates. He also tutors a boy in
math, is on the Guelph Public
Library Teen Advisory Board,
assists with events at his church, and
has hosted a clean-up party at his
local park for years.Sarah Cormier, 17, Collingwood:This capable and confident younglady has proven to be a wonderfulrole model for young children.Sarah, who is missing part of one leg
and some fingers, is a Safety
Ambassador for The War Amps and
spends a lot of time raising
awareness, educating others, public
speaking, and counseling young
children. She also volunteers to
teach snowboarding in a ski program
for special needs children. At school,
Sarah is active in Student Council,
the Parent’s Council, drama and the
Dance Committee.
Caroline D’souza, 12,
Scarborough: Even with homework,
Air Cadets, sports, music lessons,
writing, and church activities,
Caroline still has time to contribute
to her community. Since Grade 3 she
has been volunteering during recess
to help students with special needs.
She spends her weekends helping
both at her church and local seniors
home. Caroline has also sold short
stories she had written to raise
money for We Care 4 Children, a
fund she started to benefit children
in India.
Emily Ennett, 17, Stratford:
Emily’s strong character and true
leadership ability have led her to
become involved in countless
causes. A food drive that was going
to end, an adult community that
needed a wheelchair van, a new
group forming at school to befriend
special needs kids have all benefitted
from Emily’s drive and commitment.
At school Emily introduced a youth
philanthropy program in which all
grade 10 students will now compete.
The winner will donate a $5,000
grant to a local charity. She then got
three other schools involved to dothe same.Jeff Howard, 17, Innisfil:Conservation, wildlife and theenvironment are Jeff’s passions, andhave been since he was a youngster.
Above and beyond all he has done to
educate his peers and community
members about local environmental
causes, he has recently completed an
extensive project to study a local
creek. This naturalist is involved in a
number of local groups, different
animal rescues and school projects,
and is always willing to get others
involved.
Vivian Leung, 16, Oakville:
Vivian cares about others and her
compassion has led her to volunteer
for a number of organizations at
school and within her community.
This year alone she has volunteered
for the St. John Ambulance, the
Rotary Club, the Oakville Youth
Advisory Committee and for Big
Brothers and Sisters of Halton to
name just a few. Vivian has also
spent much of her own time
coordinating fundraising events to
benefit others in need around the
world including Pencils for Kids, a
campaign to donate school supplies
to children in Niger.
Nicholas Maharaj, 13, London:
Nicholas has progressed through the
Scouting programs where he now
provides leadership and guidance to
the Beavers, aged 5 to 8. Nicholas is
also a passionate participant in Free
the Children. His school raised
almost $9,000, built a school and
from then on Nicholas was hooked.
His most recent project has been to
found and act as Editor of the first
student newspaper. Nicholas works
one on one with younger goalies.
His natural leadership style and
likeable personality, makes it anamazing experience for all the kidshe coaches.Jacob McGavin, 13, Walton: Onhis 12th birthday, Gavin foundedKids Care, a group of young teens
striving to make a difference in
poorer areas of the world and
improve child education. His group
raised a significant amount of money
to build a school in Africa and at the
local level, the group, under Jacob’s
leadership, has collected food for
local food banks.
Keerie Peters, 17, Pikangikum:
This intelligent, strong willed and
tenacious young lady is determined
to not only make the most of her life,
but to encourage others to do the
same. Facing dramatic school drop-
out and absenteeism rates,
alcoholism, drug abuse and a high
rate of suicide in her First Nations
Reserve in Northern Ontario, Keerie
provides inspiration and leadership
to fellow students by encouraging
them to attend the religious club and
to participate in school activities
such as sports and dance as well as
fundraisers.
Emily Tieu, 10, Kanata: Four
years ago, young Emily learned
about a rare, fatal enzyme disease
called Sialidosis, which afflicts only
one Canadian boy. When she learned
the government would not fund
research, she decided to sell her old
toys in a garage sale to help raise
money and earned $91. This
determined organizer has been going
since then to raise more money each
year and garner more support. She
has been holding garage sales every
year since then, speaking at events,
soliciting new volunteers, and has
already raised more than $12,000 for
Sialidosis research.
THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2009. PAGE 7.OCNA chooses 2008 Ontario Junior Citizens
The Huron-Perth Catholic District
School Board has tightened up its
restrictions on the use of the internet
by students, teachers and other
employees, approving revisions to
what will now be entitled the
Information and Communications
Technology policy.
The policy already included
restrictions on which types of
websites could be visited by students
at different grade levels. It also
limited the formats to be used when
uploading material to websites
directly linked to board and school
websites, and prohibited the
unsupervised downloading of
information or software onto board-
operated servers.
New additions to the policy
include the title, which was changed
from the longer Computers, Cell
Phones and Information
Technology/School Web Site
Development policy.
According to education
superintendent Dan Parr, who
presented the revisions at a regular
meeting Monday, Jan. 26,
administrators feel the new name is
general enough to take in the
intended technologies, and also
leaves open the possibility for
adaptation of the policy to cover
other new communications
technologies as they come into use.
Another revision adds “gambling
and gaming” to a list of activities
prohibited while online on the
board’s computers.
And the use of copyrighted
material of any kind must not be
used unless permission has been
received from the copyright holder.
Small excerpts can be used, but
longer segments or entire works –
such as feature-length films or blogs
– aren’t generally free for the taking.
“This is intended to remind
teachers and employees of their
responsibilities regarding online
material and other material, and that
is to receive permission from the
copyright owners,” Parr explained.
“That’s the law.”
Also, a set of “appropriate
guidelines” was created “for staff
members who use blogs, podcasts
and other new/emerging electronic
communication methods as
teaching/learning strategies.
According to Parr, much of this
section of the revised policy was
drawn from an information
publication entitled “Cybertips for
Teachers,” published by the
Canadian Teachers’ Federation.
Catholic board tightens internet restrictions
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