On a rainy late April night the 14th Annual SaskTel Aboriginal Youth Awards were handed out at TCU Place in Saskatoon. But unlike the weather, the mood inside the building was bright and cheery as over 100 youth, their families, and assorted dignitaries, politicians and community leaders gathered to honor our province’s exceptional youth.
As always, it was an evening filled with stories of unbelievable accomplishments, unheard of dedication and commitment and extraordinary acts of kindness, volunteerism and community enrichment.
Female Sports and Recreation Award winner Shayna Thomas, for example, drove three hours, three times a week to attend hockey practice in North Battleford, all while maintaining an honor roll worthy academic average. For Thomas, it’s all about choices.
“When I got serious about hockey I had to make many decisions. I had to give up other sports and activities and also spend less time with my friends,” Thomas says.
“It was also a struggle to manage my commitment to education as well as hockey but somehow I found the perfect balance.”
And examples like Shayna just kept on coming. One Grade 8 student arrives at school 90 minutes early each and every day to help with breakfast so the rest of his classmates and peers can start the day off right. Another student collects bottles to help those less fortunate at Christmas time.