Fifteen year-old Adele Beaudoin will be standing proud with government officials and other dignitaries on Parliament Hill this Canada Day!
The Grade 10 student from École Innisfail High School is the national champion of the Government of Canada's Write It!' contest. Her essay, called The Sky, was chosen from entries across the country by the Department of Canadian Heritage. The contest asks students between 8-18 years old what makes them proud to be Canadian.
"I just like writing and don't mind at all when I have to write something for school - it just comes easily to me," said Adele. "One day I was on the Government of Canada website to research an assignment I had to do for Social Studies, and I came across the contest. Then I went to my Drama Class and we had to do an impromptu question about why we're proud to be Canadian. I guess it all came together, because that night I couldn't sleep thinking about it. So about midnight I got up and wrote my story."
The opening line to her piece reads: My mother always told me that the sky is the most beautiful thing we look at, but never truly see. Adele was compelled to honour her friends who had moved from other countries, and felt the wide open Canadian skies provided the perfect canvas to create her statement.
"There is always so much going on in the sky - so many colours and shapes and room to breathe and be free. I thought it represented multiculturalism in Canada really well. I just think it's important to treat people with empathy and compassion. There will always be racists and bad people in the world, but I think we're doing pretty good at treating people well," said Adele.
"I was really surprised when I got the call from Ottawa that I had won, and my teachers are pretty stoked about it. I'm excited to represent my school and I feel like they support us to follow our interests. It all came together for me."
Adele's dad and little brother will stay back home in Innisfail, as she will be accompanied by her mom on the trip to Ottawa to celebrate Canada Day with some of Canada's most exciting and inspiring personalities'. As well, she has the opportunity to work directly with the education staff from the National Film Board of Canada to create a short film of her trip, using her new iPad that was also part of her prize package.
"We are all very proud of her," said Principal Wayne Pineau. "Adele is an amazing young lady. She's open and friendly and highly positive. She's an Honour student, for sure, but what is most impressive is her commitment to following her passion of writing. She really did this on her own, but it's a great example of supporting each student as a whole person.
"In Chinook's Edge, our goal is to build relationships with each student so that we can tap into those sparks that make them successful in adulthood. Connecting kids with the things that interest them is key to their learning, and that she discovered this in Grade 10 is extraordinary."
