At the Duke of Edinburgh bronze ceremony on May 8, recipients and community dignitaries stood for a group photo. Pictured (l-r) are Chief Supt.Tony Hamori acting district officer, Starland County Reeve Barrie Hoover, recipient Mya Russell, Const. Craig Nelson, Recipient Spencer Mammel, Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award executive director Ashley Tedham, Drumheller Staff Sergeant Kevin Charles, recipient Quinn Nelson, and Mayor Terry Yemen. Missing is recipient Hannah Mepham.
Drumheller’s own Mya Russell and Hannah Mepham as well as Starland County’s Spencer Mammel and Quinn Nelson received the bronze Duke of Edinburgh award during the ceremony on May 8, 2017 at the Badlands Community Facility (BCF).
Duke of Edinburgh Executive Director Ashley Tedham also speaks to the perseverance of the young individuals.
“For me, it's always about the community involvement and support,” said Tedham. “Having the RCMP there to support and honour the young people from the community is what it's about. These achievements represent a young person's commitment and connection to their community and also in what their future has to offer them.”
The awards program is broken into three tiers: bronze, silver, and gold. Each level consists of hours in which individuals must track in four categories of service, physical recreation, skill development and adventurous journey.
“The Gold Award is the highest accolade a young person can achieve in Canada,” said Tedham.
It is a non-competitive, non-academic award about sustainably making a commitment to the community as well as personal development. Over 500,000 Canadian youth have already taken part in the program.
It can be set at the recipients pace where they must be between the ages of 14 and 24 and have as much time to finish as they need before their 25th birthday. The award program caters to the individual's interests and can be applied to a range of abilities and skills.
The Award originated out of efforts from three men: The Duke of Edinburgh; Kurt Hahn, a German educationalist and founder of Outward Bound, and Lord Hunt, leader of the first successful ascent of Mount Everest.
After its launch in 1956 for boys aged 15-18, the program was focused on getting youth involved in a program where they could develop their skills and become more worldly. Its original sections were rescue and public service training, the expedition, pursuits and projects, and fitness.
By September 1958, a similar award was created for girls. From then on, it evolved into what it is today with four similar sections and an increased age limit to 24.
To sign up, call the office at 403-237-7476 ext. 1 or simply go online and visit the website here.
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Duke of Edinburgh bronze award recipient Quinn Nelson engages in conversation with Const. Craig Nelson after the ceremony in the Badlands Community Facility (BCF) on May 8, 2017. The award is received after a certain amount of hours within five categories and there is also the Silver and Gold Award to strive for once the Bronze is completed. (mailphoto by Terri Huxley)
Duke of Edinburgh bronze award recipient Mya Russell holds up her award with Mayor Terry Yemen and Barrie Hoover, Reeve of Starland County during the ceremony in the Badlands Community Facility (BCF) on May 8, 2017. The award is received after a certain amount of hours within five categories and there is also the Silver and Gold Award to strive for once the Bronze is completed.(mailphoto by Terri Huxley)
Duke of Edinburgh bronze award recipient Spencer Mammel holds up his award with Mayor Terry Yemen and Barrie Hoover, Reeve of Starland County during the ceremony in the Badlands Community Facility (BCF) on May 8, 2017. The award is received after a certain amount of hours within five categories and there is also the Silver and Gold Award to strive for once the Bronze is completed.(mailphoto by Terri Huxley)
Duke of Edinburgh bronze award recipient Quinn Nelson holds up her award with Mayor Terry Yemen and Barrie Hoover, Reeve of Starland County during the ceremony in the Badlands Community Facility (BCF) on May 8, 2017. The award is received after a certain amount of hours within five categories and there is also the Silver and Gold Award to strive for once the Bronze is completed.(mailphoto by Terri Huxley)
