Youth to receive highest Duke of Edinburgh award

Two Colchester County youth will receive Gold Awards of Achievement through the Duke of Edinburgh program.

Justin Thibault, a member of 596 Phoenix RCACS in Tatamagouche, and independent Therese McCurdy, of Truro, will receive the award during a special ceremony in Halifax on Nov. 2, featuring Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex. Prince Edward is the International National Chairperson of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award.

The local youth will be a part of a group of 62 receiving the award.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a personal challenge for young Canadians aged 14 to 24. It is a balanced, non-competitive program of voluntary activities, which encourages personal discovery and growth, self-reliance, perseverance, responsibility, and service to community.

The program began in 1956 and is offered in more than 140 countries. More than eight million youth have participated.

In Canada, the program has been operating since 1963, with the governor general as the national chair. The ward is amongst the highest accolades a young Canadian can receive, and more than 44,000 participate each year.

In Nova Scotia, the Award has been operating since 1972, with more than 4,000 young people achieving bronze, silver and gold awards during this period of time. There are presently more than 3,500 participants registered in the program in the province.

With adult guidance and assessment, participants follow a non-competitive and self-directed program that challenges them to achieve their personal best in four areas: physical recreation, community service, skill development and outdoor expeditions. The gold level has a fifth component – a residential project – a five-day, four-night planned project or training in the company of peers who are not the participants’ usual companions.