A Huron County teenager is one of ten young people to be honoured by the province for her volunteer work in and around her community.
Jillian Bjelan of Hensall received the Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers Award at Queen's Park on Monday, an honour the 19-year-old calls a thrilling experience; especially alongside fellow volunteer award recipients from across the province.
Bjelan spoke to CKNX News about the experience and the chance to meet her fellow volunteers at Queen's Park, saying, "They are beyond extraordinary. The things that they are doing in their communities makes you feel even more empowered to want to go out and be an even better volunteer, so I'm very glad to be a part of the recipients this year with them."
It's evident that Bjelan gives her all, and certainly gives back to her community in several ways.
Not only is she the Hensall Fair Ambassador, but she acts as stage manager for the Blyth Festival's 14/19 Initiative, has mentored younger students, co-founded a mental wellness group called Active Minds along with her involvement in a number of various councils.
All in all, Bjelan has contributed well over 1,000 volunteer hours to various initiatives leaving no doubt whatsoever that volunteering is just a part of who she is.
"I don't remember a time where I wasn't doing something to give my time. My mom has a story of when I was in Junior Kindergarten; I didn't want to go outside for recess and I'd want to stay in the classroom and help the teacher get stuff ready for the next class," says Bjelan.
Since 1998, the Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers has been awarded to youth between the ages of 15 and 24 and recognizes those youth who have donated their time and talents toward an initiative or organization in their community.
This year's awards were handed out by The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario and Michael Chan, minister of citizenship, immigration and international trade.
