Fuchsia Dragon | [email protected]
At just 17 years old, Hailey Duguay is already making waves.
The Jasper High School student has just become the youngest person to win the Mayor鈥檚 Recognition Award for volunteer services.
Duguay campaigns to address equity, diversity and inclusion both at the high school and in our community through their work with the Jasper Gay Straight Alliance (GSA).
Speaking at the award ceremony in April, Mayor Richard Ireland said Duguay has a passion rare among teenagers, and that the world needs more of that.
Duguay鈥檚 employer Lynn Wannop from Coco鈥檚 Cafe and Community Outreach鈥檚 Anna DeClercq nominated Duguay for the award.
Wannop said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 like the world is going to be a better place because of them. I feel like they are growing up to be a true activist.
鈥淭hey have so much to offer and is so passionate about educating people. They are growing up to be an amazing person.鈥�
Wannop said she feels the Jasper GSA is as strong as it is because of Duguay鈥檚 involvement.
鈥淭hey do so much work and everything they do is from such a good place,鈥� she said.
Duguay said it was a surprise to win the award.
鈥淚t was really amazing. I was not expecting it,鈥� Duguay said.
鈥淚 was not likely to win being so young.鈥�
The Grade 11 student has been a member of the high school GSA since Grade 8 and runs information booths during classes.
Duguay has attended GSA conferences on a volunteer basis through Jasper Community Outreach Services and works closely with Jasper鈥檚 LGBTQ student body to ensure students have role models that represent their diverse and inclusive population.
During the annual Jasper Pride Festival, Duguay made introductions and spoke at the youth and GSA workshops and plays a role in bringing back youth year after year.
Duguay said: 鈥淚t was something I was interested in, to be able to fight for human rights.
鈥淚 saw a lot in the news and wanted to help.鈥�
The young activist said their parents were 鈥渞eally amazed and pretty proud of me.
鈥淚t鈥檚 cool to have that support from them.鈥�
Duguay will continue to work at Coco鈥檚 this summer and plans to finish school at Jasper High School, with plans to study medicine at college and university.
