In the Community
• Marlene Bryenton, Charlottetown. For establishing programs to help her fellow Islanders in need, such as Baby Think It Over, which raises awareness about teen pregnancy, and Friends of the Food Bank, which lobbies food companies to donate goods to Charlottetown’s food bank.
• Steven Wang, Cambridge, Ont. For inspiring youth to get involved through Community Action by Youth. About 100 members serve food to the homeless, mentor students and raise awareness across Ontario about climate change.
Social Action
• MariLynne Abbott, Vancouver. For building subsidized housing for mature women in Vancouver. Personal experience prompted her to help form the Women in Search of Housing Society, which secures land and money to build co-op housing.
• Saeed Selvam, Toronto. For advocating among youth against crime in Toronto and founding two youth groups, TicToc and the Youth Advisory Team to Stop the Violence Foundation, which help young people deal with poverty and gun violence.
Educator
• Michele Dekok, Hope, B.C. For engaging students in global issues. She started Make a Difference (MAD) World Club and, with her students, has raised money for tsunami relief and to renovate a school and build libraries in Bali.
• Jackie Hildering, Port McNeill, B.C. For teaching students about the environment. Travelling to schools throughout her district, she teaches students about conservation in the classroom and takes them on nature walks.
Youth (12 and Under)
• Hannah Taylor, Winnipeg. For fighting homelessness by founding the Ladybug Foundation, a nonprofit organization that has raised more than $1 million for shelters and food banks across the country.
• Samantha Young, Alliston, Ont. For making wooden-bead bracelets and contributing her profits to help children who have been orphaned by AIDS in Africa.
Youth (13 to 17)
• Kayla Cornale, Burlington, Ont. For developing a teaching system that allows children with autism to read, spell and learn through music. Sounds into Syllables is used by special-education teachers to facilitate communicating with students.
• Bo Palmer, North Vancouver. For creating a nonprofit organization that provides donated sports equipment to less-fortunate young people around the city. Supporting Students in Sports has enabled thousands of youth to keep physically active.
by Sara Ditta
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