The Spark Gala & Youth Voice Award
I have attended a lot of events in my life. Conferences, summits, hackathons, community gatherings. I have sat in a lot of rooms and walked away with a lot of lessons. But last week I attended my first gala. And I can say with complete honesty: it was one to remember.
The Spark Gala, hosted by Councillor Colleen James M.Ed and Democracy in Action, was not just an evening event. It was a beautifully curated celebration of the people who are doing the quiet, persistent, sometimes underrecognised work of strengthening democracy and amplifying youth voices in our community. From the moment I walked in, the energy in the room told me this night was going to be something special.
An Evening That Inspired From Start to Finish
The night started off with a powerful panel discussion on AI and policy, conversations many people are having right now, where the intersection of technology and civic participation is still being mapped in real time. What a PANEL! Everyone was laser focused and drawn to all th eppoints, the panellists brought depth and honesty to a prevelant topic right now.
There was a passionate live performance that stopped the room. Good food and most importantly a room full of changemakers and community builders who are committed to building something in Kitchener-Waterloo and beyond. Being surrounded by them in that setting was energising in a way I am still carrying with me.
Receiving the Youth Voice & Democratic Education Award
truthfully: I did not expect this.
When my name was called and I walked up to receive the Youth Voice & Democratic Education Award just as I was about to leave to catch my train. I was presented by Susan Prange, C.C., C.L., I felt a mix of emotions that I am still finding words for. Gratitude, of course. But also something deeper, a kind of recognition that the work has always mattered, that the years of showing up have been seen, and that the community I have poured myself into has been paying attention.
This award recognises my work over the past seven years, with the City of Kitchener, the City of Waterloo, and through the Young Eye Initiative globally. Seven years of conversations, events, programmes, partnerships, and the persistent belief that young people deserve a genuine seat at the table not a symbolic one. To have that work reflected back through an award like this means more than I can easily articulate.
Gratitude That Goes Deeper Than a Thank You
There are people in this community whose leadership has made my journey possible in ways they may not even fully know. I want to name all of them, because the list is long to say the least.
To Mayor Berry Vrbanovic, thank you for the consistency of your commitment to inclusive civic life, and for demonstrating what it looks like when a leader genuinely listens to young people rather than simply consulting them.
To MPP for Waterloo Catherine Fife, your advocacy for equity, education, and youth empowerment has been a constant source of encouragement. Thank you for using your platform to create space for the voices that often get crowded out.
To Regional Chair of Waterloo Karen Redman, thank you for leading with the kind of steady, principled commitment to community that makes the whole region stronger.
To the Honourable Bardish Chagger, your continued dedication to empowering young Canadians and your belief in the power of diverse voices in democratic spaces has been something I have looked up to for years. Thank you. You are right: “Canada needs more Waterloo”
And to the incredible nominees I was recognised alongside; being in that company was itself an honour. The calibre of people doing impactful work in this region never ceases to move me.
To My Family, Mentors, and Friends
Behind every public moment is a private story of people who showed up when no one was watching.
To my family, thank you for the foundation. For the belief that was there before I had anything to show for it. For every sacrifice made quietly and without complaint. I carry you into every room I enter.
To my multiple mentors, you know who you are. You have challenged me, redirected me, and held me to a standard I didn’t always feel capable of meeting. The fact that I keep reaching higher is because of you. I wrote about why mentorship matters but no blog post captures what it actually means to have people in your corner who believe in you before you believe in yourself.
To the Young Eye Initiative Family
I want to say this as clearly as I possibly can: this award does not belong to me alone.
Every person who has been part of the Young Eye Initiative as a volunteer, or someone who shared their story, attended an event, supported a campaign, or simply believed in what we were trying to build, is reflected in this recognition. The work that earned this award was done collectively. The credit belongs collectively.
Your support and shared vision continue to push me forward every single day. On the days when the work feels impossible, I think about this community and I find the energy to keep going. That is not a small thing. That is everything.
A Moment But Not the Destination
Awards are meaningful. Celebration is important. But I am always careful not to let a moment of recognition become a resting place.
This award is not the summit, it is a marker on a much longer climb. The Kitchener-Waterloo region has poured so much into me over the years: opportunity, community, trust, and belief. I do not take that lightly. And I am deeply committed to giving it back through every event we host and every conversation we create space for.
The work continues. The vision is clear. And the best of what the Young Eye Initiative will build is still ahead of us.
Thank you, Kitchener-Waterloo. Thank you, Spark Gala.