Staying involved locally, globally

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This article was published 20/03/2014 (4418 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Years invested in helping others has earned an Oak Park High School student a nomination for an exceptional award.

Caleigh Bell, 17, is in the running to receive the Gerrie Hammond Memorial Award of Promise at the YMCA-YWCA Women of Distinction Awards, which will take place May 7 at the RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg. Bell, in Grade 12, was nominated for this category by Oak Park resource teacher Kerri Martin.

“She is the kind of kid that any teacher dreams of having. She’s just super energetic, she’s always enthusiastic, and she really goes that extra mile. It was time other people recognized her achievements,” Martin said.

Martin also happens to be one of the teacher advisors for Oak Park’s social justice program, of which Bell is co-chair. The social justice committee focuses on raising awareness of and funds for social justice issues around the world and right at home. However, being part of this committee is only a small part of Bell’s long, volunteer work-dominated resume.

Bell, a Charleswood resident, started volunteering when she was just 10 years old. Her aunt had recruited her to deliver meals to senior citizens in the community, which sparked a passion for volunteering in Bell.

“In Grade 7, I started helping out at my church (Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church), teaching catechism on Monday nights,” Bell said.

Bell also volunteered at the Varsity View Community Centre carnival, The Children’s Hospital Foundation’s Teddy Bears’ Picnic, and at many other functions in her community.

She was also a camp counsellor at FortWhyte Alive during her Grade 10 year.

Last year, Bell had the opportunity to go to Kenya for 11 days with charitable organization Me to We where she helped to build an all-girls high school.

“We did a water walk one day, where we filled up jugs of water — they were 50 pounds — and carried them to see what (the locals) did on a daily basis,” Bell said. “And we went to an elementary school and played with the kids, which was pretty much the most fun part of the trip.”

It sounds like Bell is spreading herself thin volunteering not only in her hometown but in other parts of the world, but she said she loves it.

“I’ve just been given a lot of great opportunities, and I like to be involved in the community, locally and globally,” Bell said.

For more information about the YMCA-YWCA Women of Distinction Awards, visit ywinnipeg.ca/programs/community-initiatives/women-of-distinction

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