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Oak Bay celebrates youth with YES Awards

10th annual ceremony highlights student work
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A dozen young, smiling people earned recognition in the David Foster Theatre at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel.

The Oak Bay youth are recipients of the Young Exceptional Star Awards issued by the District of Oak Bay. The celebration marked a decade of highlighting youth outstanding in ways not always recognized by conventional awards.

Coun. Hazel Braithwaite created the YES Awards during her previous term on council. It was a way to recognize youth, bring in business to help with that recognition, and invite the seniors’ group leadership to remind them of good works by youth in the community. The goal is to emphasize a variety of talents, efforts and character beyond athletics and academics.

“It’s not what they do, but who they are,” said Jim Force, while handing out an award on behalf of the Rotary Club of Oak Bay.

“My YES Award inspired me to become even more involved in my school and community,” said speaker Dan Fainstein during the May 10 event. He was among the inaugural award-winners. The award inspired him to go out for even more school activities and coach Special Olympians in swimming and track. The award remains an inspiration today, he said.

This year’s award winners are Nami Dupain, Emmett Hodgins, Caroline Palfy, Meghan Lancaster, Grace Thomas, Chris Horwood, Hailey Gray, Annika Little, Liam Carter-Sullivan, Esmé Johnson, Cameron Mears and Juile Tolson.

Businesses and groups supporting them include: Athlone Travel, Braithwaite Family, Carlton House of Oak Bay, Coast Capital Savings, District of Oak Bay, Edward Jones, Kiwanis Club of Oak Bay, Oak Bay Pharmasave, Oak Bay Business Improvement Association, Rotary Club of Oak Bay, RBC Oak Bay, Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty, University of Victoria, Digital Direct Printing and the Oak Bay News.

Read more about the winners on pages A 9 to 11 in this edition or visit oakbaynews.com for extended coverage including more images, videos and speeches.

editor@oakbaynews.com



Christine van Reeuwyk

About the Author: Christine van Reeuwyk

I'm dedicated to serving the community of Oak Bay as a senior journalist with the Greater Victoria news team.
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