On October 28, 19 young people from across Saskatchewan gathered at Government House in Regina to receive their Duke of Edinburgh International Awards from His Honour, the Honourable W. Thomas Molloy, Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan.
Among those recipients was Gracie Paul, a student at Canora Composite School (CCS) who earned her Silver level pin and certificate.
In order to achieve the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, these young people must complete a minimum number of hours of volunteer service, physical activity and skill development, as well as spend time on an “Adventurous Journey”, hiking, camping and surviving in the great outdoors.
At the Silver level, the time commitment for the first three categories is a minimum of 26 weeks.
Paul’s voluntary service was library and coaching U5 soccer (26 hrs); physical activities were track, cycling and snowshoeing (32.25 hrs); skill development was studying aviation in order to learn to pilot an aircraft (29.25 hrs) and her journey was a 25-kilometre cycling trip to Good Spirit Lake.
By achieving this award, Paul said she knows now she is capable of anything she puts her mind to, as well as the true meaning of dedication. She has discovered many new strengths, and learned more about herself. Her assessors reported that Paul always had a smile on her face, and was a good role model for the younger athletes.
Paul said she was introduced to the program through her membership in Canora air cadets (at summer camp) and has proceeded to achieve both the bronze and silver awards independently.
The intent of the Duke of Ed Award program is to help young people transition from youth to adult, according to a release from the program.
It is also meant to provide them with opportunities to be of service to others in their communities, helping them understand their own capacity to make a difference in others’ lives. Requiring them to pursue a physical activity and develop a skill over an extended period of time helps them to learn how to set goals and achieve them, while developing healthy lifestyle habits, said the release.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award was established in 1956, and now operates in over 130 countries around the world.
