![Judith Beaver from Webiquie is walking to Ottawa to raise funds for a new sportsplex](https://www.netnewsledger.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Judith-Beaver-from-Webiquie.jpg)
TORONTO – Ontario Regional Chief Stan Beardy congratulates Judith Beaver a Webequie First Nation youth who will be one of five youths receiving a Leadership Award at this year’sDAREarts Leadership Awards gala tonight in Toronto.
Judith Beaver, a Grade 9 student from Simon Jacob Memorial Education Centre in Webequie, First Nation, will also announce at the Awards Gala, that she is organizing a walk-a-thon from Pickle Lake to Ottawa to raise funds to build an arena for her First Nations community.
“Recognizing our youth at events like the national DAREarts event for the work they do only encourages them to continue, it shows that our children are eager, talented and motivated to make change in this world,” said Ontario Regional Chief Beardy. “I congratulate Judith Beaver for being a role model for her peers and know she will continue doing amazing things for her community.”
In addition to receiving a medal, the DAREarts charity will present Judith Beaver with an award for $500 that will help launch her fundraising drive to achieve her goal for her community arena. These awards are presented to outstanding teen graduates of DAREarts programs for tackling their own personal challenges and becoming leaders in their own communities.
It was the loss of her close, teenage cousin in January 2015 that inspired Judith Beaver to embark on her ambitious venture at this time. “I am determined to give back to my community in this way,” said Judith Beaver.
The DAREarts Leadership Awards will be hosted by Marci Ien, co-host of CTV’s Canada AM, and will present Cultural Awards to internationally renowned Canadian television personality Jeanne Beker and Olympic athlete and human rights advocate Waneek Horn-Miller from the Kahnawake Mohawk territory.
Visit www.darearts.com for more information.