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 TD Canada Trust Scholarships for Community Leadership TD Canada Trust is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2008-2009 TD Canada Trust Scholarships for Community Leadership valued at up to 70,000 each. From across the country, these young Canadians have made a meaningful and lasting difference in their communities. All of these extraordinary young people share one common belief - one person can indeed make a difference. 
The 2008-2009 TD Canada Trust Scholarships were officially awarded on May 7th at a national ceremony in Ottawa by Tim Hockey, Group Head Personal Banking and Co-Chair TD Canada Trust.
TD Canada Trust Scholarship Recipients
TD Canada Trust Scholarships for Community Leadership 2008 Recipient Bios Daniella Barreto Daniella’s experiences as a recent immigrant from Zimbabwe inspired her to act against the effects of poverty and war on people’s health and wellbeing. She has participated in Red Cross events to empower young people and was a resource leader and facilitator for the Red Cross Humanity Strikes Back Conference. Daniella is a founding member of People Who Care, her school’s global issues club, which enables students to respond to these challenges in meaningful ways. The group raised funds for a UNICEF children’s program in Darfur and an anti-malaria campaign. Daniella is also co-editor in chief of the school paper and plays guitar, sings and paints. At university, she intends to gain the tools to tackle global poverty and conflict.
Jillian Cameron In spring 2008, Jillian led a dedicated student group from her high school to organize a benefit concert for a school in Uganda. As one community helping another, they used their talent and all the resources available to them to put on a successful concert, raising over 10, 000 dollars. Her desire to invest in communities grew while working with underprivileged children at the Kerr Street Performing Arts Day Camp. She created and conducted a curriculum that used the arts to empower kids, celebrating their individuality while providing a safe place for them to be free and creative. Jillian loves music and dance and hopes to help others find expression and freedom through the arts.
Megan Fultz Believing in the power of youth to create positive change in human rights and social justice, Megan is the co-founder and co-director of Oxfam Canada student groups at the University of Winnipeg and University of Manitoba. To support this national human rights organization, Megan has organized a benefit concert for the past three years called World Rhythm: African Cause, in support of victims of the civil war in Darfur, Sudan. Despite living with a chronic and challenging physical disability, Megan is dedicated to political activism and community involvement. Recently elected the youngest member of the Prairie Regional Steering Committee of Oxfam Canada, she is also active with many school and community groups. Megan enjoys singing, songwriting, and community theatre, plans to pursue a career in international development, and hopes to work for the United Nations.
Taylor Gordon Compelled to act on world issues, Taylor founded “The Motiv8rs” humanitarian club, to raise student and community awareness of global inequalities in food, water and wealth. The group fundraises for organizations such as the Ryan’s Well Foundation, Free the Children and Right to Play. She is also 30 Hour Famine coordinator, ambassador for the 2008-09 Fall Fair and a local radio announcer. Taylor has juggled roles as student council president and skip for her competitive and school girls curling teams, and is a member of the Fusion Vocal Ensemble. She volunteers for Food Bank drives and the Cape Farewell Green Team, and acts and stage manages in her school Drama Club. Taylor enjoys painting, writing, singing and playing the piano, and plans to study international development.
Aristides Hadjinicolaou President of the Marianopolis Student Union, Aris also co-founded the Marianopolis CANFAR Club, to fight against the apathy and stigma associated with AIDS, while raising awareness and funds for research. He is active in the Hellenic community of Montreal, as a member of a traditional dance group and as an administrative assistant for the Center for Greek Studies. As president of the Junior Parish Committee, he plans fundraisers in the Greek Orthodox faith community, sings in the choir and teaches Sunday school. Aris is on the executive of the Marianopolis First Aid Team, addressing crucial health issues in the absence of a school nurse, works as a research assistant at the Montreal Neurological Institute, and volunteers at Hôpital Notre-Dame.
Anna James Distressed by world poverty, Anna founded her school’s Humanitarian Club and spearheaded Project Love, an inter-class competition that distributed 800 school supply kits to Tanzania. She also organized an overnight 30 Hour Famine in support of World Vision, and helped plan African lunches, to expose her community to global cuisine and gather funds for charitable causes. In 2008, Anna travelled to Peru to volunteer at Mother Theresa’s Home for the Dying and the Destitute, helping abandoned and disabled children and elderly, while also assisting impoverished seniors in the Peruvian desert. Among her hometown pursuits, Anna is a community ambassador, student senator, a member of the Senior Concert Band and also a peer leader for Public Health. She enjoys writing and horseback riding, and is considering an international development career.
Vijayabharath (Vijay) Jeyapalan Motivated to take action when he joined a youth group to research barriers for at-risk young people, Vijayabharah is today co-chair of the Markham Mayor’s Youth Task Force. He has organized more than 40 events, including “The Amazing Markham Race,” to support Pathways York Region, helping raise $25,000 for Pathways’ local residential youth home. Vijayabharath explores academic growth beyond high school, by participating in learning programs such as Queen’s University Enrichment Studies, Western’s Initiative for Scholarly Excellence, the Forum for Young Canadians and Shad Valley. He is also active in peer tutoring, youth mediation and the boys’ club. Vijayabharath seeks a career as an international public lawyer.
Vinobharath (Vino) Jeyapalan Learning that youth can gain power in numbers, Vino established the Youth Environmental Network of York Region to fight the environmental crisis. After winning a major grant, he created the annual Ecological Action Conference, where 300 attendees hear speakers such as Severn Cullis-Suzuki and Justin Trudeau. He was recognized as the 2008 Green Entrepreneur of the Year and the Lakehead’s Do Something Award winner. For two years, Vino served as the co-chair of the Markham Mayor’s Youth Task Force, and planned a Battle of the Bands event for the Canadian Cancer Society. He is founder of the school environmental club and takes part in anti-bullying, peer tutoring and mediation groups. He also participated in Shad Valley, Waterloo Unlimited, and the DEEP Science Academy.
Omar Karim By founding “Mind Over Autism” to raise awareness and funds for autism, Omar has learned that being different is not a bad thing. With more than 60 club members, his classmates meet weekly for lunch with special needs students. Omar is a founding member of Global Action Against Poverty and was youth convener of the Ambassador Program for the World Partnership Walk in B.C. He coordinates the preparation of sandwiches and baked goods for the homeless through "Project PB and J" and "Project Love," planned a 30 Hour Famine and community clothing drives. Omar is also part of the Student Union of Moscrop( THE S.U.M.) and part of a group of students who are raising funds to build a school in Sierra Leone. He is active in students’ council, the Ismaili Volunteer Corps, and is president of the District Student Advisory Committee for Burnaby. Omar’s goal is to study international law and work in the non-profit or development field.
Alyssa Lake Alyssa started her school’s very first Students Against Drinking and Driving chapter to encourage people to look out for one another and to make positive decisions. This initiative has grown successfully to include a large proportion of her school’s student body. In addition, she represents her community on the Hyron Youth Development Council, giving youth a voice and addressing their concerns. Alyssa has played numerous active roles within her school and community including student council, drama club, robotics team, public speaking, band, choir and tutoring. She also participated in a 25-hour fast, raising money to aid people in Third World Countries; and, she was a committed member to her communities’ Just Youth program that teaches students about the poverty and injustice that affects people around the world. Interested in health and fitness, Alyssa has been involved with a variety of sports throughout high school including, goalie for her ice hockey and ball hockey teams, curling, aerobics, and badminton. With her focus on health and wellness, Alyssa plans to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology.
Nicole Leroux Nicole has shown how good things can grow. While volunteering at an animal rescue centre in Ecuador, she witnessed the lack of clean drinking water in Las Tunas, a poor coastal town. On her return to Canada, she started “Water for Water” to raise funds to buy a pump and infrastructure for the villagers. Starting with in-school fundraisers, her surrounding community joined the cause, through donations and benefit concerts. Today, Nicole is focused on ensuring the project’s long-term sustainability as it expands along the Ecuador coast and into two other South American countries. She has started a website to raise awareness and funds for the Quito Zoo’s wildlife rescue program. Nicole is also active in an environmental club, Kids Help Phone, athletics and her faith community.
Taryn McKenzie-Mohr In response to tension between two rival schools, Taryn united students from both schools in a campaign to raise funds for Free the Children. To date they have collected $21,000. To honour a friend, Taryn organized a brain cancer fundraiser and recruited 200 team members to canvass donations. She has also organized a student film festival, which is now an annual event with local sponsors. Trained by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore to deliver his Inconvenient Truth presentation, Taryn represented Canadian youth at the UN Conference on Climate Change in Poland in 2008. Within her school, she has been involved in students’ council, Interact, Model UN, Student Vote and the swim team.
Julia McLellan In 2006, Julia created "Centre Stage" in her small community to teach varied forms of dance to children during the March break. After receiving massive community support, the activity expanded into a full dance program. It now includes weekly lessons for children age six and up from surrounding areas that otherwise could not offer dance instruction. Although the training is free, students are encouraged to donate to the endangered community hall where the classes take place. Julia also volunteers weekly with young dancers at Truro Dance Academy, helps at the local soup kitchen and also performs in benefit concerts around the community.
Latif Murji As an executive member of the Bethune Environmental Action Team (BEAT), Latif created a three-step eco-program for feeder schools, which uses interactive games, skits and activities to equip younger students to become environmental change leaders in their schools and communities. A founding member of the Northside Improv Troupe, Latif used his comedic skills to alleviate the anxiety felt by students who are about to enter high school. His troupe toured elementary schools and used improv comedy to ease their transition to grade nine. Latif co-founded a Free The Children chapter, is Director of the Committee for Personal and Social Responsibility, editor-in-chief of his school newspaper, and is active in students’ council and the Ismaili Volunteer Corps.
Humza Nusrat Humza created an intramural cricket league in his high school to help integrate isolated young immigrants into the school community. Interested in human rights, he founded an Amnesty International youth group, and also started his own snow-shoveling business, to support his family through difficult financial times. In addition to his academic focus, Humza is the finance minister for the South Asian Heritage Club and is active in the Athletic Council, S.T.A.N.D. (Students Taking Action Now: Darfur ), Reach for the Top and the math club. He volunteered at a local hospital and elementary school and also earned a black belt in Taekwondo at the age of 12. Humza aspires to become a family physician.
Ketaki Rawal Inspired by her volunteer work in India at an orphanage and an eye hospital, Ketaki started a chapter of PRASAD (Philanthropic Relief, Altruistic Service and Development) at her college, to raise awareness and funds for the blind in India. She is coordinator for community service in the Marianopolis Rotaract Club, and has volunteered at local hospitals, including the Douglas Mental Health Institute and the Montreal Children’s Hospital. Ketaki has won national and international awards for her science fair research of adolescent response to stress and their corresponding salivary cortisol levels. Ketaki has a deep interest in music, and plays the piano, sings in a choir, and participates in a music ensemble. She wishes to pursue a career in the medical sciences.
Rebecca Reiss To channel her passion for environmental conservation, Rebecca founded “Clean up your Act,” a group that promotes everyday sustainability and ecosystem preservation, through activities such as a 50-person beach clean-up and a school waste audit. Rebecca has made presentations to elementary school students on changes they can make to benefit the planet, and mentors young volunteers to help them launch their own ideas. As an executive with her school’s Ventures business club, Rebecca helped organize a community street market to aid a local family in need. She also volunteers at a soup kitchen in Vancouver’s downtown east side and makes school presentations for Kids Help Phone. Rebecca wants to integrate her interests in debate and sustainability through a career in environmental law.
Mauricio Ruiz As a proud Colombian immigrant to Canada in 2003, Mauricio revived a Spanish-language newspaper, Voces Latinas, in order to preserve Latino culture in the far north. He edits print and web editions that serve more than 130 Spanish-speaking members of his community. Mauricio is active in fundraising for Breaking Chains, an association that provides shelter, schooling and support to sixty homeless children in an underprivileged neighborhood in his hometown, Bogota. He has participated in Shad Valley and Encounters with Canada and is a school tutor. Mauricio plans to become an engineer, so that he can design devices that facilitate living, ranging from medical aids for seniors to clean water stations for remote villages.
Adam Stacey Realizing that a gap existed between the non-profit sector and youth volunteers, Adam started “Nighthawks Connect,” a program that provides nearly 100 students with the opportunities, mentoring, and guidance to become active community members. Adam plans to expand the successful model to other schools. Having served as co-president of students’ council for the past two years and founding co-president of the Interact Club, Adam has helped raise more than $30,000 for local and global charities. Within his community, Adam is a United Way board member and has organized the Terry Fox Run. He also works part-time, runs cross country, officiates soccer and discovered a love of sailing while crewing on a tall ship last summer. Adam seeks a career in international law.
Julien Tremblay Julien’s interest in global issues and belief in the importance of youth leadership motivated him to become involved in many projects. At age 16, he and his team won a national competition to be the Canadian delegation to the Junior 8/G8 youth summit in Wismar, Germany. In Cégep, Julien and a group of friends reactivated his college’s UNICEF campus club, making it one of the most active in Québec City, and today he leads student teams to Model UN events and parliamentary simulations, as well as participating in international conferences, such as the 2008 World Youth Congress. Julien is one of the youngest executive members of Québec’s Forum Jeunesse, and he plans to pursue a career in law or international relations.
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