Nominations Open – Kawartha Lakes Youth Awards

WILLIAM MCGINN, Communications & Marketing Assistant BGC Kawarthas

KAWARTHA LAKES: Calling all Kawartha Lakes youth, between the ages of 12 and 24, and their parents, coaches, teachers and friends! BGC Kawarthas, formerly known as Boys and Girls Clubs of Kawartha Lakes, is hosting its fifth Youth Awards; nominations are now open.

The Youth Awards were created to spotlight the young leaders of Kawartha Lakes. There are local youth whose devotion to their passions and love for the community deserve to be known and celebrated. There are eight award categories for two age groups, 12-17 and 18-24.

The categories are, Humanitarian, Arts Achievement, Green (environmentalism), Physical Literacy (sportsmanship), Resiliency, Entrepreneurship, Leadership and BGC Club Spirit.

A nominee, transitioning to post-secondary education or training within the next year, can also be considered for the Ron Kennedy Scholarship. Ron Kennedy founded the BGC Kawarthas (formerly called Kawartha Youth Incorporated), in 1970. A second memorial scholarship, the Marcie Beall Scholarship, is given to the winner of the BGC Club Spirit Award, in the 18-24 category. Marcie Beall was a young leader who worked at the Club and exemplified love and compassion.

The event has Polito Ford Lincoln, Kawartha Lakes Honda, and Bounce 91.9 as lead sponsors.

The ceremony, in June, will highlight all the finalists. Each year, the awards share amazing and varied stories. Last year, for example, one winner was a voluntary designer for her school’s event posters, and she also built and painted a large set for a High School Musical play. Another, created and maintained a small farming enterprise, for seven years, while sustaining Honours in high school and a job at Caressant Care. Two nominees were recognized for their collective submission of art and an essay about self-governance, inclusivity and equality, which the National Centre chose for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) education program, to represent Ontario at the national level.

Nomination forms can be found online, at www.bgckawarthas.com/kawartha-lakes-youth-awards/. Anyone can submit a form. Youth can submit for someone they know and for themselves. These can be nominated as individuals or together in groups.

The forms can be emailed, to nominations@bgckawarthas.com or sent, to BGC Kawarthas, at 107 Lindsay Street South, K9V 2M5. The deadline for nominations is Friday, March 8th, 2024.