Senator Unger’s Statement on the Annual Grande Prairie “Leaders of Tomorrow” and Volunteer Appreciation luncheon

Fellow Senators, before returning to Ottawa earlier this month, I had the distinct pleasure of attending the Annual “Leaders of Tomorrow” and Volunteer Appreciation luncheon in Grande Prairie located in the mighty Peace River District of Alberta.

Organized by the Grande Prairie Volunteer Services Bureau, this annual event recognizes students who have made outstanding contributions to their communities through volunteerism.

This year, nine deserving young women were recipients of the Leaders of Tomorrow Award.

They are:

• Angie Marcy Campbell
• Tenley Cooke
• Brittany Green
• Chelsea Currie
• Paige Kerckaert
• True Lojczyc
• Caden Nelson
• Yna Nicole Tejol
• Sky Vetsch

For the first time, the Luncheon also hosted the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award, which is an internationally recognized program designed to encourage young people to develop positive skills and lifestyle habits.

This award is one of individual challenge. It presents young people a balanced, not-competitive program of voluntary activities which encourages personal discovery and growth, self-reliance, perseverance, responsibility to themselves and service to their community.

I had the privilege of presenting the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Medallions to 5 deserving young men:

• William Pernal
• Miles Potter
• Brandt Radcliffe
• Bennett Winnicky-Lewis
• Keaton Winnicky-Lewis

I want to commend the Grande Prairie Volunteer Services Bureau for their role in organizing this important event.

Fellow Senators, it might surprise you – as it did me – to learn that the age group which volunteers the most is the 15 to 19 year-old group.

Over the last 13 years, the number of volunteers across Canada has been dropping in almost every age group: However, it has been consistently rising among young people.

Statistics like this give me hope for our future, and the young men and women behind the numbers deserve to be celebrated.

They embody the heart and spirit of what truly makes our country a great nation – putting others before yourself.

Today, I stand to honour the young men and women who received these awards in Grande Prairie.

I invite you to join with me in thanking them and all young people across Canada who make the lives of others richer through their volunteer efforts.