A group of youth from across Canada spent Tuesday celebrating more than 5,000 hours of volunteer work completed, all to benefit Burnaby. Ten youth spent the last six months volunteering full-time for various local groups, including the Burnaby Hospice Society, the Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion and the Burnaby Arts Council.
Their efforts were part of the Katimavik program, which sets up youth, aged 17 to 21, in different Canadian cities to volunteer.
"It is a wonderful experience for the volunteers and work partners alike," said Ali Stoffels, project leader for the Burnaby crew. "The organizations benefit from the work of Katimavik volunteers contributing their strengths and enthusiasm while the volunteers gain important work experience and skills that will transfer to whatever they choose to do next, whether it's continuing their education or stepping into the work force."
See www.katimavik.org for more.
STUDENT WINS
Burnaby student Dustin McGladrey was one of 117 aboriginal students who received a financial boost from the Irving K. Barber B.C. Scholarship Society.
The annual awards, between $1,000 and $3,500, help aboriginal students pursing postsecondary education. The money comes from the B.C. Aboriginal Student Award, which is funded by the returns on a $10million endowment fund established by the provincial government in 2007.
McGladrey studies at BCIT.
Free book
I have many more books to give away, dear readers, so keep your eyes on this column in the coming weeks.
This issue, I have a copy of Environmentalists from our First Nations, by Vincent Schilling. The book profiles 10 aboriginal activists, from both Canada and the U.S., who have dedicated their lives to fighting for environmental justice. It's part of a series for youth aged nine to 13.
The first person who emails me at jmoreau@ burnabynow.com with Environmentalists in the subject line gets the book, but you have to pick it up at our office, which is open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
