The Girl Guides of Canada recently announced 19 winners of its national scholarship just in time to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the organization.
St. Albert’s Kirsten Nadeau was one of the fortunate recipients to receive the $2,010 award, but you couldn’t say that she got it by luck — she earned her selection. The proof can be seen through another award she won, receiving one of 12 Alberta Council Scholarships worth $1,000 each.
Guiding is her life, Nadeau says, and it has taught her so much about the importance of service to others and being a good person.
“There are just so many opportunities that I got from guiding,” she says. “I like to represent a strong female role model for all the young girls within guiding and empower many of the young ladies I work with within the guiding community with the same values and ideals that I’ve gotten from guiding.”
The 21-year-old Bellerose grad has been involved in guiding since she was five. She is currently in her second year of the social work program at Grant MacEwan University. After graduation she intends to continue to work at the Transitions Rehabilitation Association, where she currently provides respite care for children with special needs.
Apart from her studies and employment, she is also an active leader for girls aged 13 to 15 within her guiding group and she regularly volunteers with different community groups like the International Children’s Festival and Special Olympics as part of her service work with the guides.
Nadeau says the awards are an honour she can share with her fellow guides.
“I was very excited and very proud because I know that I could share this with everyone within the guiding community and everyone would be very proud of me as well.”
Nadeau previously achieved the highest guiding award of the Canada Cord and has now been a Pathfinder leader in St. Albert for three years. She has also participated in several guiding camps in England and Ontario. She intends to continue on as a leader with the Girl Guides.
“I’m hoping to continue to volunteer, even taking my group of Guides overseas in 2012.”
To learn more about Girl Guides, please visit www.albertagirlguides.com.
