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.
THE OTTAWA SCHOOL OF THEATRE presents the all ages play "The House Rules" in the Richcraft Theatre at The Shenkman Arts Centre. Showtimes 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 27 and Friday, Nov 28, and 1:30 p.n. on Staurday, Nov. 29 and Sunday, Nov. 30. Tickets $22 for adults, $12:50 for audience members 25 and under. For more information and advance tickets visit 
CAPITAL TEASE BURLESQUE PRESENTS STRUT at the Stray Dog Brewing Company, 501 Lacolle Way in the Taylor Creek Business Park. Tickets $20 available at 
SANTA’S PARADE OF LIGHTS beginning at 6 p.m. at the corner of St. Joseph Blvd. and Youville Dr. The parade will follow it’s traditional route down St. Joseph Blvd. to the Orléans Town Centre.
HOLIDAY VARIETY SHOW at 7 p.m. at Good Shepherd Parish Church, 3092 Innes Rd. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Sing-along at 6:45 p.m. This is a fundraiser event for Food for Families. Coats for Kids, and local food banks. Monetary donations gratefully accepted: by cheque to “Good Shepherd Parish” or by e-transfer to finsec9005@gmail.com.
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.
