Vital awards honour young Cape Bretoners
‘Cape Breton does present those opportunities to people who want them’
For Kathleen Yurchesyn, coming back to Cape Breton after six years away offered her the job of a lifetime.
Yurchesyn, 26, who is originally from Sydney, moved to Halifax to attend college after she graduated high school and then moved to Newfoundland for two years.
She returned to Cape Breton after she was hired as the marketing manager at Cape Breton University (CBU).
Yurchesyn admitted she only left Cape Breton to pursue her career and always intended to come back. She added that Cape Breton is a great place for young people to have their potential realized.
“I think Cape Breton offers a unique opportunity to really be seen and it provides each one of us to have an impact and whether we take that kind of depends on us,” said Yurchesyn.
“I certainly don’t think that I would be in this role and a position here at CBU anywhere else in the country at my age, but because Cape Breton does present those opportunities to people who want them, I think it’s a unique place to live.”
On Friday, the NextGen Leadership Society, in concert with the Cape Breton Partnership, honoured Yurchesyn with a Vital Cape Breton Excellence Award. She was one of five people recognized in the employee category at the event held at Centre 200.
Yurchesyn was one of 10 individuals between the ages of
16 and 40 who were considered to have made a significant impact in their community or workplace, with the event also honouring five employers who
recognize the importance of giving youth and young professionals a meaningful work experience.
Another individual recognized for the impact he’s made in Cape Breton was Alwyn Jeddore, 27, from Eskasoni and now living in Whitney Pier. Jeddore volunteers in his community and is involved with the Mi’kmaq language and cultural department at Membertou Elementary School.
Jeddore is an assistant language instructor and his role is to help preserve the Mi’kmaq language in Cape Breton. He said he was caught off guard in winning a Vital excellence award in the individual category.
“I was surprised. To be quite honest, I didn’t really know anything about the award so I was a little confused but when I found out I felt quite honoured and quite humbled that someone nominated me and I was picked as one of the winners,” said Jeddore, who added he was happy about the amount of support shown during the event.
“I’m pretty proud of Cape Breton — not just as a Mi’kmaq person, but as a Cape Bretoner. I love it here and I think there’s a whole lot of potential here on our island.
This place really makes me proud to see everyone wanting each other to thrive.”
The event opened with music and food for participants and audience members to enjoy as they mingled until 7 p.m. The official ceremony started directly
after that, with the winners taking the stage and being presented with their awards.
To learn more about NextGen and the Vital awards, go to www.cbnextgen.com.