Peggy Revell
Three local youths have been lauded for their hard work and dedication through this year’s Northwestern Ontario Aboriginal Youth Achievement and Recognition Awards.
“It feels great having not only one or two but three of us [recognized],” enthused Larissa Desrosiers, who was presented with the award earlier this month along with Morgan Kreuger and Sydney Radigan of Couchiching First Nation.
They were among the roughly 40 youth throughout the Northwestern region recognized in a variety of categories, such as volunteerism, mentorship, academics, the arts, and more.
One of the youngest of these award recipients was 13-year old Radigan, recognized for her love and dedication towards athletics.
“I was very happy and excited,” she said about being chosen from amongst many to be presented with the athletics award.
Radigan plays a variety of sports, including squash, volleyball, and cross-country running, which all have wrapped up for the season.
But her main focus is soccer.
“I want to be a professional soccer player,” Radigan vowed, noting she has played on the U12 district soccer team and also plays on the regional squad for Northwestern Ontario that meets to play in Thunder Bay once a month—a pathway she hopes eventually will lead to the provincial team.
“It’s really hard work,” she admitted about the time she’s dedicated to playing and training.
Last week alone, she’s been busy every day with soccer, as well as a volunteer to ref the younger age groups.
Kreuger, a Grade 12 student at Fort High, was recognized with an award in the category of peer mentoring.
“I was actually really happy—and I was excited,” remarked Kreuger, who wasn’t able to make it to Thunder Bay for the May 4 awards ceremony.
The award recognized the variety of ways Kreuger is involved, including helping with children’s liturgy readings at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, being an assistant coach for the St. Francis girls’ basketball team, and participating in Fort High’s peer mentoring program.
“I was kind of surprised,” she said about receiving the award.
“Normally I get recognized for my academic stuff, but this is the first time that I’ve actually been recognized for all my involvement with other activities,” she noted.
Desrosiers, meanwhile, was recognized for advocacy and activism due to the myriad of activities she’s involved in.
“I was just really excited when I found out,” recalled Desrosiers, saying it’s a confidence booster to be recognized for her work.
The 15-year-old probably is best-known for her talent and aspirations as a singer and songwriter, with a positive message about being aboriginal.
She’s actually booked to tour this fall with Canadian singer Shy-Anne Hovorka after placing first in this past year’s Aboriginal Music Tour competition.
Desrosiers currently is “immersed” in the music and arts program at Fort High, participating in musical reviews, musicals, and the bands—missing out on the Thunder Bay award ceremony since it conflicted with the opening night for the high school’s “Wizard of Oz” production.
At school, Desrosiers also is part of the “Natural Helper” and peer mentorship programs, and the annual Young Women’s Conference.
She also has participated in the Couchiching Youth Leadership group this past year, was a student rep for the aboriginal education advisory committee, and has participated every year in the “Good Life for Young People” walk, which sees a group of youths and adults walk their way throughout the Treaty #3 area.
Nominations for the Northwestern Ontario Aboriginal Youth Achievement and Recognition Awards are submitted annually, with the winners selected by a committee in Thunder Bay.
