Horatio Alger Award

In April of 2012, I was awarded the prestigious Horatio Alger Award (Unfortunately there was no official awards ceremony, back then the organization was mostly based in the States). The endowment comes from the Horatio Alger Association of Canada, a non-profit organization that gives out scholarships to high-achieving students. Supporters include hockey player Wayne Gretzky, astronaut Chris Hadfield, Toronto Mayor John Tory and former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.

There have been many wonderful events I have been able to go to because of the Horatio Alger Awards. The first was a concert with Horatio Alger International Ambassador George Perris (October 2012), a very talented singer, who sings in French, English and Greek. I was the guest of honour and spoke to the audience beforehand. It was an amazing time and I was so happy I was able to attend! The concert was by Perris who was doing a fundraiser for the Horatio Alger Scholarships throughout Canada. 

When I met George, he was so kind. He not only gave me a signed copy of his DVD, but he also dedicated a song to me. He left me with this advice when I went to see him back stage. Whenever I run into a door, “do not open it, KICK it open!” Those words stay with me today.

After my speech, Member of Parliament Stephane Dion came up behind me and said he “Really admired me.” It was definitely a night to to remember.

“I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it's the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It's probably the most important thing in a person.” ― Audrey Hepburn

Us at the start of the night!

The performing team

On February 7, 2013, I had the honour of preforming with the Carleton Improv Association against the uOttawa Improv team (MI6) at Cracking up the Capital, Ottawa’s first comedy festival! (Located at Algonquin College) http://www.crackingupthecapital.com/index.php?artid=event0207 Where all the proceeds went towards Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre and the Youth Services Bureau.

It was a pretty amazing night. My team and I arrived at Algonquin and got brought to the back room where the green room was so that we could hang out and relax. We got to Meet Colin Mochrie there! The show went amazing. I had quite a few friends in the audience who were super supportive and laughed at all my jokes.

Arguing with Colin

I even got to do a few scenes with Colin! 

Unfortunately OttawaU won the game this time around... they got to take home the beaver that was carved by one of our own!

Colin is such a fun guy. During this after party, he stayed for about

Afterparty!

half an hour to give our team advice, answer questions and just all around be an amazing human being. I’m glad that heroes are sometimes really heroes.

We had a limo to the afterparty!

I asked Colin to do an impressed photo with me so I could show the internet later, he said okay. I didn’t realize that was the face he made until after I saw the camera. What a joker.

All in all, an amazing experience, the first time I ever performed Improv in front of such a gigantic crowd! 

I asked him to be impressed.

Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal

Created in 2012 to mark the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the Throne as Queen of Canada, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal was a tangible way for Canada to honour Her Majesty for her service to this country. At the same time, this commemorative medal served to honour significant contributions and achievements by Canadians. During the year of celebrations, 60 000 deserving Canadians were recognized.

We had a bit of trouble getting it on

On February 2, 2013, I was honoured to be one of the youngest and last Canadians to receive this medal from my Member of Parliament, Craig Scott.

The ceremony took place in the Ontario Legislative Assembly, pictured are the other medal winners.

Booklets were given with the short descriptions of each recipient. 

My description stated:

“For her service to seniors, youth and children, at home and abroad, and for demonstrating to other youth that the future of a compassionate society starts with them.”

I was even in the Chinese Newspaper! (Don't ask me what it says)

“The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something. Don’t wait for good things to happen to you. If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill the world with hope, you will fill yourself with hope.” ― Barack Obama

I started volunteering for Parliament Hill early in January. I volunteered for Libby Davis, the National Critic for Healthcare, Deputy Leader of the NDP and the MP for Vancouver East. It’s a pretty fun job, I get to walk through the front doors of Parliament every week without going through security like a peasant (kidding, kidding). Her office is actually right down the hall from Stephane Dion’s and Olivia Chow’s! It’s really fun volunteering on the Hill, I love walking up the steps and thinking in my head “I am a part of the political process.” Even if it is just a desk job where I enter stuff into the database. I also read some letters that make me very upset (funds getting cut, though I do get to sit in Libby Davis’ seat!) And of course, I’ve gotten a visit from my page friend Andres, and been able to sit in the members gallery!

Access to Parliament Hill: I am the 1%.

Toronto East Rotary Club Scholarship

Toronto East Rotary Club Community Service Scholarship.

On July 12, 2012, I was awarded the Toronto East Rotary Club Scholarship for my volunteer work, my dedication to my community, keeping high marks and overcoming obstacles. These scholarships, given out by the Toronto East Rotary Club were wonderful. They really helped encourage me and 4 other recipients to go to post-secondary school.

http://www.torontoeastrotary.com/

The Merit Award Bursary Program provides bursaries to senior high school students as an incentive to stay in school, recognizing those who demonstrate a commitment to their school work, extra curricular activities and communities.

The Merit Award Bursary Program was started in 1996 by a group of Toronto residents. They felt it was important to support and encourage high school students to stay in school. The late Mr. Justice John Sopinka of the Supreme Court of Canada was the first Honourary Chair of the Program, which is administered entirely by volunteers.

The first bursaries were awarded to 20 high school students in the former City of York in the Fall of 1996. The Program was expanded to include the former Borough of East York in 1997. In the most recent round of awards [Spring, 2012], the Merit Award Bursary Program awarded 150 bursaries to students at 45 specified secondary schools across Toronto.

I was honoured to be one of the recipients of the $2,000 bursary as well as being the keynote speaker, speaking on behalf of all the students who won something that night. This is the second time that I’ve been awarded this bursary and still cannot get over how AWESOME it is, literally helping over thousands of students with their education.

In one of the photos is a myself with the other recipient from my school, Amir as well as a photo of myself and my mom!

I am also apparently a poster child for the Merit Awards..

http://meritaward.ca/about-us

55 Division CPLC Youth Scholarship Program

The 55 Division CPLC Youth Scholarship Program are presented to young people, between 15 and 18, who have combined academic excellence with outstanding volunteer service with the 55 Division community.

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