Congratulations are due to the youth of Manitoulin Island who have recently returned from parts away bearing accolades and plaudits for everything from hockey to public speaking to robotics.
In each case over the past few weeks these amazing young people have done us all proud with their accomplishments and have proven to be outstanding ambassadors for their communities.
Whether it is passing the puck to allow a teammate to score in a hard-fought Little Native Hockey League game down in Markham, wowing the judges in a FIRST Robotics meet in North Bay or telling it like it is in the Legion public speaking contest in Falconbridge, our youth never fail to demonstrate their dedication, hard work and determination to succeed. They provide a testament that does each and every one of us proud.
Manitoulin’s youth have always seemed to punch way above their weight when it comes to placing their talents and skills up against those of their contemporaries in far larger communities, and they do so with the limited resources available in small rural centres—proving themselves to be “resourceful” in the truest sense of the word.
We would be remiss to not mention the families, parents, aunts, uncles, siblings and other caregivers who have provided the support and encouragement that helps to enable Manitoulin youth to be all that they can be or become.
Each year, youth from Manitoulin Secondary School and Wasse Abin Wiikwemkoong High School travel to distant lands providing aid (in the case of the solar light programs at MSS), or learning about other cultures, as in the recent journey undertaken by Jason Thibault’s class to Belize.
Wherever they travel, these intrepid young ambassadors have presented themselves with the unfailing polite decorum they have learned from their families, friends and neighbours.
It is often said that “our children are our future” and looking at these accomplished young individuals there is no mistaking the fact that the future looks bright.
These young men and women will, in turn, raise children who will doubtlessly go on to continue the traditions of success demonstrated by their parents.
Manitoulin has much to be proud of in these troubled times—and not the least of which are its youth. Once again, we say, well done one and all. Keep up the outstanding work.
