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Duke of Edinburgh’s Award celebrates local young achiever

The Duke of Edinburgh celebrates 23 recipients from Victoria, Saanich, Duncan, Courtenay and Campbell River

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards Ceremony will be held Saturday at the Robert Bateman Centre in Victoria and Cambpell River’s Hannah Taylor will be one of the recipients.

The Duke of Edinburgh celebrates 23 recipients from Victoria, Saanich, Duncan, Courtenay and Campbell River.

An influential leader in environmental preservation, artist Robert Bateman will present the Bronze Awards and share a few words of inspiration with the recipients.

“These young people are already role models not only to their peers but to younger children and adults as well. Their commitment to the environment and social service is hereby being appropriately acknowledged and should serve as inspiration to those that follow in their footsteps,” says Bateman.

The Duke of Edinburgh Award is an internationally-renowned program that gives youth between the ages of 14 and 24 the chance to participate in a global awards program that encourages them to become more involved in their surrounding environment through community service, create new friendships, stay healthy through physical recreation, to take part in an adventurous journey that will create livelong memories, as well as to partake in any activities that inspires and motivates them and the people around them.

The Duke of Edinburgh Award is a leadership program through which participants can further their self-development and leadership skills in a non-challenging and non-competitive manner and are recognized for their success and achievements.

Through a journey of self-discovery and with principles of self-determination and self-esteem, youth create healthy relationships with four sacred aspects of life: community, self, body, and nature.

Besides Taylor, Spencer Ranson, Jeevenn Sangara, Ford Smith, Kyle Becker, Tristan Becker, Cole Robertson Duther, Cameron Welch, Taylor Cartwright, Tristan Hill, Luca Hofferker, Jazmine Hinz, Michael Cooper Chanel Ghesquiere, Georgia Fromager, Rachael Benjamin, Uma Hallea, Caryn Cooper, Lucy Hancock, Aaron Konstrup from Victoria, Emma Rigsby from Courtenay, Lucas Grosse from  Duncan and Georgia Tomseh from North Saanich have all successfully completed the Bronze level and will be presented with their awards.

Leaders who have guided the youth through the Award are:, Robin Sutherland – 1st Cedar Hill Venturers, Brian Carr-Harris – 5th Tsarlip Scouts (with 20 years of service and retiring this year), Curtis Becker –14th Juan de Fuca Venturers, Penny Waterman – #263 RCSCC Beacon Hill Cadets, Major Al Hoffman – 3005 RC ( Army) CC, Mrs Marshall and Stacey Sampson – Claremont Secondary Pursuit of Excellence, Jane Hicks – Glenlyon Norfolk School, Donna Holmwood – St Margarets School, Becky Anderson – St Michael’s University School, and Lynne Macara.

“A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.”

– Lao Tzu