The Orléans Star is proud to announce the recipients of this year’s Orléans Outstanding Youth Awards. The Orléans Outstanding Youth Awards were first launched in 2005 as a way to recognize the many accomplishments of young people living in Orléans and the surrounding community.
They are unique in that there are no specific categories, instead individuals can be nominated for their achievements in a given area or in a combination of areas.
The Orléans Star received 28 nominations in total. Each submission was individually vetted by a panel of seven judges who were each asked to select their top 10 candidates. The lists were then collated and the 20 nominees with the most judges’ selections were chosen to receive the award.
This year’s judges were former children’s entertainer and citizenship court judge Suzanne Pinel, city councillors Catherine Kitts, Matt Luloff and Laura Dudas, Orléans MP Marie-France Lalonde, MPP Stephen Blais and former French public school board principal Pierre Campeau.
This year’s individual recipients are:
• Emma Ellsworth
• Ayla Martin
• Fadila Hijazi
• Eric Mercer
• George Huang
• Asiq Gazi
• Sweny Saija
• Gavin Hickey
• Evan Simcoe
• Gabriel Toreja
• Elizabeth Vroom
• Claire Rea
• Jacob Cheslock
• Robyn Eustace
• Evangeline Tabiou
• Timeo Atonfo
• Sophia Cooney
• Sophie LaVasseur
• Valérie LaVasseur
Two teams have also been chosen to receive an Outstanding Youth Award this year. They are the U12 Cumberland Panthers, which won the Ontario Football Fall Cup provincial championship; and the St. Matthew Tigers varsity football team which won the city championship and the National Capital Bowl.
Unfortunately, not everyone nominated can receive an award. This year’s Honourable Mentions include Adrian Laszkiewicz, Emma Barteau, Mackenzie Cosh, Jessica Bulinski, Donovan Rawlings, Scarlett Noordhof and Kamila Serra King.
Each recipient will receive their personalized trophy, or Honourable Mention certificate, along with several copies of the commemorative program, by special delivery.
The Orléans Outstanding Youth Awards would not be possible without the generous support of presenting sponsors Collège La Cité, Université St.-Paul and Collège Boréal, gold level sponsor M.L. Bradley Ltd. and more than a dozen individual award sponsors.
TRIVIA NIGHT from 7:30 p.m. every Tuesday night at the Royal Oak Pub Orléans. Free to play. Prizes for the winning team! The Royal Oak Pub is located at 1981 St. Joseph Blvd. near Jeanne d'Arc. For more info visit 
OYSTER NIGHT every Wednesday from 6-9 pm at the Orléans Brewing Co. Two types of oysters served with lemon, Tobasco, horseradish, salt and mignonette. The Orléans Brewing Co. is located at 4380 Innes Rd., next to McDonalds.
OPEN MIC NIGHT at the Stray Dog Brewing Company, 501 Lacolle Way. Registration begins at 7 p.m. Music at 8 p.m. with your host Matthew Palmer.
ANNUAL UGLY SWEATER CHRISTMAS PARTY from 7 p.m. to midnight at the Royal Oak Pub Orléans. Live music with the Ryan Mac Duo starting at 8 p.m. Lots of door prizes to be won including a pair of Ottawa Senators game tickets!! Prize for the ugliest sweater of the night! Complimentary light refreshments while supplies last. For more info visit 
THE STRAY DOG BREWING COMPANY presents Bon Echo live and in concert as part of their SDBC Taproom Series. Tickets $10 in advance, $15 at the door. The Stray Dog Brewing Company is located at 150 Lacolle Way in the Taylor Creek Business Park. For more information visit 
