Ottawa – Sarah Griffin

A 24 year old graduate, dancer and volunteer - I’m Sarah Griffin and I am absolutely thrilled to be the 2016 Ottawa Rose! A proud Irish-French Canadian, I grew up in a suburb of Montreal called Deux-Montagnes and my Irish roots stem from St. Mullins, Co. Carlow and Ardfert, Co. Kerry. I attended the University of Ottawa where I completed my bilingual Honours Bachelor of Arts with Specialization in Linguistics and a minor in Celtic Studies. I am currently working for Statistics Canada on the 2016 Census. In the fall, I will be commencing my graduate certificate to be a Communicative Disorders Assistant (CDA). A major focus and passion of mine over is Irish dance. Thanks to Sue Fay Healy Irish Dance, I have been lucky enough to compete at multiple international championships ending my competitive career this past fall at the 2015 All Ireland Irish dance championships in Killarney, Co. Kerry. Although I am still dancing recreationally, I am also a proud player for the Ottawa Gaels Gaelic football team. I enjoy volunteer coaching for GRDO (Gloucester Recreation Development Organization), a non-profit, after school sports skill development program for children 4-14 years old. I love to stay involved and give back in my community here in Ottawa in any way possible! Last summer, I received the Ireland Canada University Foundation Scholarship where I had to opportunity to study Irish within the Connemara Gaeltacht, in Cheathrú Rua (Carraroe), over three of the most amazing weeks of my life. I live on a Hereford cattle farm west of Ottawa and although I am new to farming, I love working with the cows, growing my own vegetables and living in the country.