After a three year hiatus due to the COVID pandemic, the Global Community Alliance youth achievement award dinner returned this year as a feature of the Black History Month events in the National Capital.
This year’s awards were held at the Sheraton Hotel on Saturday, Feb. 24. A grand total of 14 awards were handed out to 11 deserving young people and three educators for making a difference in their diverse community and for being upstanding role models.
Eight of the recipients were from the east end – Anthony Nguyen from St. Peter High School, Amy Zhang from Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School, Laetitia Abou Assali and Daniella Ihezor from St. Matthew High School, Joud Houssari from Gloucester High School Malaika Kamanzi from Colonel By Secondary School, and Franol Duressa and Ghada Ahmed both from Lester B. Pearson High School.
Anthony Nguyen is a Grade 12 student who is committed to fostering well-being and community service with his school’s community. As co-president of the school council at St. Peter High School he has been devoted to various impactful initiatives. Most notably, he recently co-ordinated the school’s Christmas campaign which raised an impressive $10,000 which was used to help support financially challenged families in the community.
Amy Zhang is an Honour Roll student at Sir Wilfrid Laurier High School where she received the award for Athlete of the Year for 2022-2023. She is also a member of the school’s jazz and concert bands, the latter of which won gold at the Ontario Music Festival.
Daniela Ihezor is a Nigerian-born new Canadian who also recently graduated from St. Matthew High School where she was the co-founder of the school’s Black Student Association and served as a member of the school board’s Black Student Advisory Council which was able to open a space of free conversation about issues that effect the Black student population.
Laetitia Abou Assali is a recent graduate at St. Matthew High School where she was committed to promoting harmony among her fellow students, especially students of Middle Eastern decent. She was also captain on the girl’s varsity soccer team and had an exceptional academic standing
The Global Community Alliance youth achievement awards are organized by former St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School teacher Moses Pratt and his wife Kelly.
ANNUAL REMEMBRANCE DAY CEREMONY 11 a.m. at the Orléans Cenotaph beside the Orléans Legion Branch 632, 800 Taylor Creek Drive. Sandwiches and desserts following the ceremony inside the Legion.
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.
SDBC TAPROOM CONCERT SERIES presents East Coast Experience live and in concert from 7 p.m. at the Stray Dog Brewing Company, 501 Lacolle Way in the Taylor Creek Business Park. Advance tickets $25 available at 
CRAFT AND BAKE SALE from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.at the Hobbs Seniors Club, 109 Larch Cres. (off Champlain Street).
