Two local teens have been recognized for their hard work, determination and commitment in the community as they were among 16 in the province to be presented with a 2013 Great Kids Award in Edmonton on March 3.
Thirteen-year-old Hemzy Elkadri and 17-year-old Winston Gamache were both made eligible to receive the award after being nominated by family, friends and co-workers for their selflessness when it comes to donating time, effort and money to the community.
For the best part of a year, Elkadri has been doing all he could to raise awareness of Curtis Hargrove, the Cold Lake native running across Canada to raise funds for the Stollery Children's Hospital.
In July and August, Elkadri worked at his father's recycling plant, donating $2 of his hourly wage, plus all tips he recceived to Hargrove's cause. By the end of the summer, Elkadri had raised and donated over $16,000.
Since others had nominated him, Elkadri was completely taken aback when news broke that he'd been chosen as a recipient of the prestigious award.
“I was really excited when I found out I'd been chosen, it felt really good,” Elkadri said. ‘I didn't know I was going to get the award so I didn't know what was happening at first.”
Elkadri said he really enjoyed the weekend in Edmonton, where he got to meet the 15 other award recipients as well as local and provincial MP's, but maintained the important thing was the money raised for Hargrove's cause.
“Curtis is doing a really good thing and I didn't think he was getting too many donations,” Elkadri said. “So I decided I could help and I'm really happy I did.”
Getting involved in the community is something Hiam Kadri, Hemzy's mother, believes puts kids in good stead for the rest of their life.
“I was just as surprised as Hemzy was when I heard he'd won the award,” Hiam Kadri said. “But it's definitely a positive thing. I think this is the sort of thing that would encourage kids to do more in the community – it creates awareness.”
She went on to thank the community for helping her son achieve so much.
“The community has been incredibly generous,” Kadri said. “Hemzy did the work and started the whole thing – but it really took off once others found out, which is great because the money is going towards a really good cause.”
Receiving awards is not a new thing for Bonnyville's other ‘Great Kid', but Winston Gamache said this was certainly one of the most surprising awards he's received.
“I think part of the reason it felt so good to receive this award is because I didn't see it coming,” Gamache said. “I think I was nominated by my boss, so it was a complete surprise.”
The Grade 12 student was nominated for the leadership he has shown in a variety of school and community groups, including BCHS's Helping Our Peers Everywhere (H.O.P.E) group, Students Against Drinking and Driving and the Ardmore 4-H Beef Club.
This is the second prestigious award Gamache has received in the space of a month after collecting the national Loran Scholarship last month. The scholarship provides Gamache with money towards living expenses, summer internships as well as covering all tuition payments.
Gamache said he received word that he'd won the award the weekend after he'd returned from his Loran Scholarship interview in Toronto, saying it really meant a lot to him.
“I'd say this ranks pretty high up on my list of accomplishments,” Gamache said. “It's really nice to be acknowledged and recognized by the community, this award is definitely something I'll remember for the rest of my life.”
For more information on the 2013 Great Kids Award and this year's winners, visit humanservices.alberta.ca
