Four Young Leaders Receive Prestigious $20,000 4-H Canada Leadership Excellence Awards of Distinction

Ottawa, ON, Oct. 19, 2022 – 4-H Canada is proud to announce the recipients of the 2022 4-H Canada Leadership Excellence Awards of Distinction (L.E.A.D.).

L.E.A.D., which is generously supported by CN, is 4-H Canada’s most prestigious honour, recognizing outstanding youth members who demonstrate 4-H values in their everyday lives. The awards recognize youth who have become exceptional leaders through their 4-H experience, and who share the best of themselves with their communities.

The 2022 4-H Canada L.E.A.D. recipients are:

• Ava Copas (NS), Community Engagement & Communications Pillar
• Aidan Reynolds (NB), Science & Technology Pillar
• Elena Sales (BC), Environment & Healthy Living Pillar
• Kate Axten(SK), Sustainable Agriculture & Food Security Pillar

The highly sought scholarship is awarded annually by 4-H Canada, in partnership with CN, to four outstanding 4-H members who embody the 4-H youth movement and demonstrate personal development, community impact, and leadership excellence in relation to one of 4-H Canada’s four Leadership Development Pillars, which are as follows: Community Engagement & Communications, Science & Technology, Environment & Healthy Living, and Sustainable Agriculture & Food Security.

“We are thrilled that through the commitment and generosity of CN, we have the opportunity to support and recognize dedicated 4-H members who have truly demonstrated what it means to be an exceptional leader,” said Shannon Benner, Chief Executive Officer of 4-H Canada. “The L.E.A.D. scholarships are special in that, above and beyond financial support, they provide unique opportunities for these young leaders to learn from mentors in their chosen field of study. This enables them to build skills outside the classroom, grow confidence, and gain real-life experience as they pursue their future careers.”

L.E.A.D. scholarships are made possible through a generous partnership with CN, a long-time supporter of 4-H Canada and strong champion for advancing leadership in rural communities across Canada. Each L.E.A.D. recipient receives a $20,000 scholarship toward their four-year post-secondary studies. In addition, recipients are matched with a high-impact mentor from within their field of study. This mentorship relationship is an invaluable component of the award program, supporting L.E.A.D. recipients as they move forward in their careers.

“At CN we see ourselves as more than a mover of the North American economy, we are also a corporate citizen that strongly believes in making a difference in local communities across our network. This is why CN is proud to support these exceptional and deserving scholars. The L.E.A.D scholarship program, through our partnership with 4-H Canada, helps to empower this next generation of leaders to achieve their best. We’re excited to see what they can accomplish in their growing careers.” - Cyrus Reporter, Vice-President, Government and Regulatory Affairs, CN

We congratulate the 2022 L.E.A.D Scholarship recipients and look forward to honouring them during the 4-H Canada Leadership Awards in early 2023.

To learn more about the L.E.A.D. scholarship visit 4-h-canada.ca/lead.

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