Youth Volunteer, honourable mention

Gurleen Sran is a second-year student at the University of British Columbia, majoring in political science with a minor in law and society.

She鈥檚 the co-founder and vice-president of B.C.鈥檚 Childhood Cancer Society, and she has also volunteered with more than 15 non-profit organizations since 2021.

Among those are Love Our Seniors; the RCMP鈥檚 National Youth Advisory Committee; the Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund Youth Ambassador Program; and the organization Canada Confesses, which allows marginalized communities to share their experiences regarding injustice.

"Something that motivates me to continue volunteering and giving back to the community is the positive change that occurs, whether in an individual's life or the community as a whole. Seeing the difference community service can make and how deeply it can impact an individual's life pushes me to do more," she said.

"Through my community projects, I have seen the smiles on children's faces, representing joy and a sense of gratefulness. Knowing that my actions, no matter how small, can enlighten someone's day and bring a smile to their face or inspire them is a leading factor that drives me to continue."