Youth of Distinction Awards

Congratulations to Antyx youth participant Sam who was nominated and won the Cadillac Fairview Youth of Distinction for Advocacy Award for 2016. 

The Cadillac Fairview Youth of Distinction Awards (YODA) recognize deserving youth, 13-18 years of age, for the remarkable ways in which they have chosen to live. The awards are not academic, rather, they focus on leadership, friendship, overcoming personal challenge and community service. 

Sam advocates for the LGBTQ* youth population. He has been a long time leader at the Forest Lawn High School Gay-Straight Alliance; a major voice in Calgary Sexual Health’s Gay-Straight Alliance Network; a writer and video maker for the #safeAB campaign to promote the need for safe spaces for all youth in schools; a regular attendee at Camp Fyrefly for the past three years and this year helped to co-facilitate a workshop in Trans issues; and an invited panel presenter for different presentations on the rights of LGBT* youth including panels at Western Canada High School’s Laramie Project discussion, TELUS Spark Bullying Night and the Dike and Trans March post-parade panel.

Sam has participated in Antyx Community Arts programming for five years. He has been a critical voice in establishing safe space etiquette and LGBTQ* inclusivity among other participants in our programs. 

We are so proud of Sam! Congratulations!