 Saskatchewan Junior
Citizen of the Year
Saskatchewan Junior
Citizen of the Year 1996 Biographies
Tracey Arnold
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Endurance is a quality Tracey knows intimately. In 1990 She was involved in a car accident that killed her father and caused extenseive physical injuries to the rest of her family, including herself. Tracey suffered severe injuries to her heart, spinal cord, pelvis, face, limbs, and external organs. She was confined to a wheelchair for two years but is now able to walk. This trauma has not phased Tracey but has instead made her a role model for the people around her.
She was a member of SADD, coaches minor baseball, was co-editor of the school yearbook and did statistics for the Minor/Major/Excellence awards program at Oxbow Prairie Heights School. She is also very active in a local drama group where she does make-up, administers sound effects and performs.
Tracey is involved in her church and helps the musicians present music to the congregation. She recently won the right to represent Saskatchewan at the National Arm Wrestling Competition in Thunder Bay. She spends a great deal of her time helping with chores at home including laundry, house cleaning, feeding the farm animals and hauling bales.
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Michelle Charles
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Both family and community are very important to Michelle. She has helped evacuees from a fire-threatened community near her town of La Ronge by preparing and serving lunches and driving people to belleting locations. Michelle is also very involved in search and rescue efforts in her community.
She has been instrumental in planning community fun nights, family dances, and has participated in spring festivals and Treaty Day events. She leads by example and is not afraid of new challenges.
This individual has also been a catalyst in building school spirit and pride by heling develop the school mascot, logo and colors. She was involved in peer counselling, was a member of the Senator Myles Venne School PRIDE group, was vice president of the SRC and editor of the yearbook.
She received and award of Distinction for an academic average of 84 per cent. Michelle was involved in all school fund-raising activiities that include stay-awake-athons and tickets sales.
With a vast knowledge of traditional skills, Michelle has participated in family endeavors including wild rice harvesting, fish farming, trapline activities, beading, wood carving and designing original jewellry from natural sources. Michelle's strong sense of morals, values and motivation make her an exemplary role model.
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Christine Hilderbrand
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Christine's involvement in many groups and organizations has had a profound effect on individuals around her. She was a member of the school peer support group, peer tutoring group, the multicultural committee, and the Jean Vanier Swim program - helping mentally and physically challenged students swim.
Christine was a recipient of the Club One award which recognizes student excellence, the Youth Salute award, the Canada Day Youth award and the Gold Level candidate for the Duke of Edinburgh award. She was the SRC Liturgical and Cultural Awareness Director for her high school in Regina, a member of the Student Crimestoppers Board and a member of the school's Liturgy Club.
She is also committed to the bettering of her community. She was the Saskatchewan representative to the United Nations Pilgrimage in 1995, a Country Delegate for Model United Nations Conferences and a representative to the Forum '95 program.
Her drive and determination is illustrated through her participation as an elite national level athlete in synchronized swimming even though she struggled with scoliosis. She has had to retire from competition, but coaches Special Olympics in this sport. Christine's innate ability and work ethic combined make her shining example of facing challenges head on.
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Amanda Lundquist
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Amanda epitomizes the meaning of caring. Says her nominator, "Amanda's combination of intelligence, leadership, community work and sheer human decency have been seen by all of us."
She is a candy striper who helps train new volunteers and is president of the local PRIDE chapter. She has been on the honour roll for the past six years with a yearly average of 86 per cent. Amanda is also very active in 4H counsellor at Camp Rayner and holding executive positions of vice-president and treasurer.
She has taught Catechism and has been a member of the church youth choir, the Maidstone School band, concert band and marching band playing the saxophone and piano. She has also tutored children who have trouble with their musical skills.
Amanda was born with a facial deformity called cleft lip and as a result has spent many years having surgery to correct this. Her experience has taught her to deal with adversity and come out a winner. A good sense of humour, strong work ethic, sense of responsibility and everlasting smile make her a valuable member of her home, shcool and community.
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Vincent Marquez
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Hard working, intelligent, polite, reliable and ambitious are just some of the qualities that describe Vincent. He excels in many areas including sports, music, drama, peer counselling, pastoral care, church choir and has won several school citizenship awards.
Vincent was also involved in the band program, was a tutor, a member of the yearbook committee and concert band, and was a coordinator of the 1996 Chemfree graduation activities.
Through Vincent's diligence, he has won the respect and admiration of his peers, parents and teachers in his home town of Weyburn. He was a delegate on the United Nations Pilgrimage to New York in 1994 and was also a delegate to Phi Delta Kappa summer camp in 1995 in Indiana. His grade 12 average was over 96 per cent.
In his spare time he volunteered at the Weyburn General Hospital. With the spring floods this year, Vincent helped fill and set up sand bags which saved the area from the rising waters. He recently won an entrance scholarshop to Queen's University. His actions demonstrate that not only is he a leader, but also a humanitarian.
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Alison Stelle
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Alison knows the meaning of challenge and perseverance. In 1995 she was diagnosed with a recessive disease of the retina called Stargardt's Disease, characterized by a progressive loss of central vision. But this has not hampered her pursuites.
She gives tirelessly to her community through her volunteer work. For the past four years she has volunteered at Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert. She was elected valedictorian of her 1995-96 graduating class. In 1996 Alison was the recipient of Saskatchewan's only Terry Fox Humanitarian award. She has received a youth appreciation citation from the P.A. Optimist Club, a bursary from the Victoria Hospital Ladies Auzilary and a P.A. Rotary Citizenship award. She was president of the SRC during her senior year, played in the school band, participated in intramural sports, was involved in choir, was a member of the SADD committee and edited the school newspaper.
Aside from Alison's volunteer work, she has worked part-time at the local library and for the Prince Albert Raiders, and also babysits during the summers. Contributing time to help others, while accomplising her own personal goals, demonstrates her commitment to making the world a better place.
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Dana Thingelstad
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Empathy and sensitivity are words Dana lives by.
When she was only seven years old she suffered a stroke which changed her life forever. Up to that point gymnastics and dancing were her life. She had just reveived an honours in ballet and won all around best gymnast for her age group. After the stroke she couldn't walk, talk, write or even feed herself. Dana spent the next seven years regaining her ability to function normally again.
Her perseverance and positive attitude have made her an outstanding role model amoung her peers. While in high shcool she was social director for the student council, lighting director for the school drama club, and a member of the SRC. School staff praised her strong leadership skills. Dana maintained a 91 per cent average in math and an excellent all around average.
She is very dedicated to her volunteer work with the Canadian Cancer Society and develtoped a Jail 'n Bail promotion for her school to raise funds for cancer research. Dana is also an active colunteer for the Heart and Stroke Foundation where she serves as a spokesperson. She also spent four years working for the Swift Current Hospital's gift shop.
Of Dana her nominator says, "She brings a social conscience to her activities at school by developing programs to raise awareness of health issues like cancer and cardiovascular disease."
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Candace Triol
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This young individual has repeatedly demonstrated the meaning of giving.
She was instrumental in involving her family in a church progect called Operation Christmas Child, an outreach designed to send boxes of toys and toothbrushes to needy people in other countries. For the past two years she has spearheaded a raffle to raise money for telemiracle. This involved writing buinessess and celebrities for donations of gift certificates, CD's and other items for raffle prizes. She then sold these tickets to the people in her community of Prud'homme.
Although she was born with a heart problem called Stenosis, and tires easily, she still musters energy to run several programs. Candace has also developed a Kids Kare Klub, and association for children who want to improve the environment by encouraging recycling, reducing, and planting trees. After school she tutors other children and teaches them crafts.
"Candace is a heart and soul child. She feels your joy and pain as if it were her own," says her nominator. She is at the top of her class academically and excels in music. When Prime Minister Chretien's house was broken into, Candace sent a letter to Mr. Chretien comforting and assuring him that Canadians wished him well. This letter, written in both French and English, was responded to by the Prime Minister. It is these characteristics that make her very special.
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