Young Guide a trailblazer

A local girl’s greatness is being recognized throughout Canada.

Alexina Nault, an Assiniboia resident, was recently awarded the Girl Greatness Award for making a difference through the Girl Guides of Canada. Nault was selected for the award from girls her age throughout the country.

"I was kind of just overall happy," Nault said of the award. The 13-year-old recently finished Grade 8 at École Golden Gate.

Nault was chosen as the winner based on her performance as a Pathfinder as well as her work in the community. She’s proven herself to be a leader in both areas. Since joining at age four, Nault has received all of the badges at each level, as well as completing hundreds of challenges.

"My favourite part is the badges," she said.

It’s been a busy few years for Nault. In her spare time, she organized a book run at her school, which raised 1,000 books that were donated to the local Share the Magic program. She also ran a self-empowerment campaign for women called Every Bit of You is Beautiful.

"That’s important because all around me, every day, I hear people complaining about their bodies, and how they don’t like themselves," Nault said. "I think by just putting things out there, asking what you like about yourself empowers other people, it reminds people."

Nault also organized a hygiene drive for the West Central Women’s Resource Centre, and spent two summers at Living Prairie Museum, helping the organization eradicate an invasion of thistle.

"They called me the thistle fairy," Nault said.

She said spending time in the community is a priority for her.

"For me, it’s important to do work in the community because so many people in the community have helped me in many ways, and I think it’s important to give back." 

In Guides, Nault has also managed to sell an extraordinary 960 boxes of cookies this year. Nault’s mom Tiffany says it’s all done the old fashioned way — door-to-door.

Tiffany, as well as her mother and grandmother, all went through Guides as well. Now, Tiffany is a leader. She says she wanted her daughter to experience things that most young girls don’t get a chance to outside of Guides.

"It builds so many skills, like confidence and responsibility," Tiffany said. "There are scholarships available to them when they’re older, also travel opportunities both within Canada as well as internationally.

"And just basic skills… kids these days, they don’t know how to communicate, what to do in case of an emergency, if they get lost."

Nault said the most useful skills she’s learned are survival.

"I’ve learned how to build a shelter in the snow," Nault said.

This month, she’ll be heading to B.C. for a back-to-basics camping trip with other girls from Canada.