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Big-hearted Chelmsford teen Vanessa Morris earns citizenship award

Champlain student is a mentor, volunteers on health care committees and crochets blankets for cancer patients

École secondaire catholique Champlain student Vanessa Morris has been chosen as one of 13 winners of the 2018 Ontario Junior Citizen Award.

The award is handed out by the Ontario Community Newspaper Association, of which Sudbury.com/Northern Life is a member.

These young men and women range from nine to 17 years of age, and have actively demonstrated strong leadership skills, creativity, determination, generosity and a desire to make a difference within their communities. 

They were recognized with an Ontario Junior Citizen Award during a ceremony March 18 in Toronto that was attended by Ontario Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell.

Nickel Belt MPP France Gélinas said she also met Morris at her Queen's Park office Monday. 

Morris, a former legislative page who lives in Chelmsford, was at the legislature with her family and the other Ontario Junior Citizen Award winners.

Information provided by the OCNA said Morris is an exceptional student and leader, maintaining a 92 per cent average and accumulating more than 400 hours worth of community service during her first two years of high school alone.

She served as a legislative page when she was 13 years old and enriched her knowledge of politics.

Since then she has taken on the role of youth adviser on the first ever North East Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) Patient and Family Advisory Committee and attends regular meetings weighing in on best practices to service patients and their families.

She also crochets “granny squares” and made blankets to help keep cancer patients warm during treatment.

In addition, she was selected to participate in SHAD’s 2018 summer enrichment program, is a student representative on the Conseil Scolaire Catholique du Nouvel-Ontario sectorial tables, and a spends her spare time as a teacher/mentor for the taekwondo club in her community.

“After first meeting Vanessa when she arrived at Queen’s Park as a page, I have seen her taking more and more leadership roles in and around our community,” said Gélinas, in a press release. 

“In 2018 I was honoured to present her with the Leading Women and Girls Award and now once again her work is being recognized. Congratulations Vanessa, I’m sure our paths will cross again, whether it be at Queen’s Park, Sudbury or Chelmsford.”


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