A local youth who regularly goes the extra mile to help others and has a penchant for community involvement has been nominated for an Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Award.
Nominees are young people, between the ages of six and 17, who are recognized for:
– performing worthwhile community service;
– contributing to their communities while living with limitations;
– acts of heroism; or
– being good kids who are making life better for others and doing more than expected of someone their age.
Tate Driscoll, 12, of Mapleton, fits well into the first and last of those criterion.
“Tate was the little girl with the biggest smile ever. Tate could be found at recess either helping out in the primary classes or helping out teachers to do extras,” said Maryborough Public School (MPS) office coordinator Debbie McIntosh in a letter of support for the nomination.
McIntosh, who has known Driscoll, now a Grade 7 student at Drayton Heights Public School, since she started kindergarten at Maryborough PS, said the youth has been involved in a wide range of activities at the school.
“Tate had done various jobs around the school, from volunteering at lunch time in the kindergarten room, being on Sports teams, doing a big part of the school year book and running around with the camera to ensure all the activities at school were caught on camera,” said McIntosh, adding the youngster consistently puts others ahead of herself.
“There was not a day that Tate would not go by my office, smile in and say ‘Good morning Mrs. McIntosh, how are you today?’ She is always worried about others, whether they were hurt or if their feelings were hurt, as she always put others before herself.”
Tate’s parents, Neil and Barb Driscoll, note their daughter is always keen to help others and regularly takes on roles and responsibilities that would normally be expected of someone much older.
The list of community activities Tate has been involved in includes:
– taking a leadership role in the mini We Day event at MPS for the past two years;
– membership in the local 4-H club since 2010;
– participation in the GEMs girls club at her church; and
– sporting activities including hockey and slo-pitch.
Neil Driscoll says Tate’s enthusiasm for helping out often rubs off on those around her.
“Tate is great at getting her friends involved in community events or fundraisers by encouraging them to join her for a night or day out for fun. Then whatever task they have at hand gets completed easily,” he said.
In March of 2012, Tate helped organize a fundraising campaign for a 10-year-old friend, Sheyanne O’Donnell of Arthur, who was diagnosed with cancer. Tate and several other Grade 5 students from area schools made fabric handbags to sell at their respective schools and donated the proceeds, about $700, to help the O’Donnell family with extra expenses.
The project was so successful that making the bags “took up all of her March break and weekends in April,” her father pointed out.
On another occasion, Neil notes, Tate gave up competing at her school track and field meet to help another student prepare for an opportunity to attend the Special Olympics.
The busy youth is also a big help around home, the Driscolls note. She helps out with the family’s grain elevator business, running the scale and filling out weigh tickets for customers. She is also in charge of helping her two younger brothers make their way from the bus and preparing an after-school snack, as well as starting supper for the family.
Tate said she was surprised to learn of her nomination and credits her parents for helping her develop her positive and helpful approach to life.
“I guess because my mom and dad are on so many committees and always volunteering, I just kind of followed their lead and got myself interested in what I could do for the community,” Tate said.
The Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Award process is coordinated through the Ontario Community Newspapers Association (OCNA), as part of the industry’s public service program.
A committee of community Newspaper publishers, editors, and sponsors will select the award recipients from all nominations received.
Up to 12 individuals will receive awards. Recipients and their families will be invited to an awards ceremony in Toronto in March 2014. Final recipients will be announced on Jan. 24.
