Young Squamish resident Sheila Hanton was honoured with the Child Welfare League of Canada's 2010 RCMP Youth Achievement Award recently in Ottawa.
The award "recognizes a young person (under 21 years of age) who has overcome obstacles and become a positive influence to others, who has demonstrated commitment to self-improvement, achieved improvement in a specific area, provided leadership skills or a positive contribution to other youth and has contributed to the positive image of youth," according to a statement from Sea to Sky Community Services (SSCS), one of the organizations that support Hanton's nomination.
Hanton, a student in Capilano University's Arts and Sciences Program, was nominated for her contributions to COR (Choices of Reality) Youth Advisory Council in Squamish. COR councils are meant to support regional staff with the Ministry of Children and Family Services to ensure that the voices of young people are being heard and their needs are being taken into consideration when developing and evaluating youth programs, policies, and services.
The nomination was put forward by Dawn Johnson, the Ministry's Vancouver Coastal youth engagement co-ordinator. The award, which was handed out in late February in a ceremony in Ottawa, includes an education bursary that can be used for full-or part-time studies in a qualifying program.
Nicole McRae, SSCS youth counsellor, stated in her letter of support for Hanton's nomination, "Balancing her school obligations and volunteer duties with paid work, from being a summer camp leader to working as a chef's assistant, Sheila has proven herself a great leader and motivated employee. She works and goes to school with grades to be proud of."
Said Jan Oberson, director of outreach services for SSCS, "We extend our warmest congratulations to Sheila and are pleased that her outstanding leadership and determination has been acknowledged at a national level."
