Goderich Youth Recognition Award

by Bob Montgomery

Goderich council presented the town's Youth Recognition Award to this year's winner on Saturday.

Nineteen-year-old McKinleigh Bakker credits her time in high school for getting her involved in her community. She says it started with volunteering with Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving and that got her interested in volunteering and helping people. She says several different co-op placements encouraged her to try more things and get more involved in the community.

McKinleigh says something that was common with all of her volunteering experiences was that everyone treated her like they would treat an adult and that really helped her grow her social skills and want to do more volunteering because it made her feel like part of the team and someone who was appreciated.

McKinleigh is currently studying broadcasting for television and film at Fanshawe College in London. She says her co-op placement at FauxPop Station in Goderich convinced her to get into the film industry and pursue a career in film or music videos.

Trevor Bazinet – Goderich Mayor,  McKinleigh Bakker,  John Thompson – councillor

Photo courtesy of Trevor Bazinet