by Ann Lalonde
The Oxford Mills Sisterhood of Guiding has finished off another wonderful year. They held their annual Advancement and Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, June 6 at the Oxford on Rideau Public School. Each unit presented each member with their earned badges and gifts and those who are moving up to the next level received their Advancement Certificates, and Guiders received recognition for their volunteer service as well.
The highlight of the Awards evening however, was to honour two Rangers (the oldest youth level of Guiding) completing the program. Both Amanda Leang, and Bryanna Mitchell-Massey have been members of the Oxford Mills Sisterhood for over a decade, so it was a moment of mixed emotions as they stood for the last time in front of their peers to be honoured for their Guiding achievements.
Both young ladies worked extremely hard over the last two years to earn their Gold Trailblazer Awards – the highest achievement to be earned as a youth member in Girl Guides of Canada. To say the Sisterhood is proud of Amanda and Bryanna is an understatement. To achieve this prestigious award, they have had to complete all 8 parts of their program, organize and execute a community service project and be responsible for a cookie campaign, all while leading the younger girls in unit activities. Their leaders have provided numerous references and letters of support for both Amanda and Bryanna to be considered for additional awards and scholarships.
Both young ladies were selected to receive the Youth Commitment Award and the Outstanding Youth Award, receiving certificates, pins and additional letters from MPP Michael Barrett, the Girl Guide Commissioners and Youth Ambassadors. The Awards presentation finished off with a slideshow of their many years in Guiding and, of course, no evening is complete without cake and refreshments.
It is with dedication, commitment and hard work that they achieved all of these honours while both working part time and maintaining academic success, both graduating grade 12 from North Grenville District High School this year.
It has been a pleasure seeing Amanda and Bryanna grow through Guiding and we wish them much success as they follow their post secondary educational journey in the fall.
Congratulations Amanda.
Congratulations Bryanna.
