Young Citizen of the Year Award

Young Citizen of the Year Award 2023 - Finalists 

The 49th annual Civic & Community Awards finalists will be celebrated on April 24 at the Civic & Community Awards Gala, taking place at the Laurel Packinghouse.

Tor Broughton 

Tor Broughton is a true caregiver. In 2022, Tor founded Kelowna Street Outreach, feeding over 1200 unhoused people, and providing much-needed supplies. Now 20 volunteers strong, Tor still donates hundreds of hours each year. Tor also volunteers at KGH, performing various roles which make him an invaluable asset to the nurses—some of whom were staff when Tor was born in the same unit 18 years ago. Tor also volunteers as a mentor to grade 12 students, as a practice patient for UBC’s medical program and was the Keynote Speaker in UBC’s Continuing Professional Development webinar entitled Trans and Gender-Diverse Youth. 

Hasan Mohammad 

Robots might not have a soul, but Hasan Mohammad is known as the heart and soul of the KSS Robotics Club he founded in 2021. As the club’s president, he’s helped inspire other students with his excellent presentations. Hasan also wears many other hats including sitting as the secretary of the District Student Council, co-president of the KSS Global Awareness club and working with local charities. Last summer, Hasan volunteered over 110 hours as a recreational leader for the City of Kelowna, teaching art to people with disabilities as well as logging many hours at Central Okanagan Food Bank packing emergency hampers and training new volunteers. 

Mehak Parihar 

For the past three years Mehak has volunteered with BGC Canada and in 2023, BGC named her as one of six Canadian Youth of the Year. While juggling several AP courses, Mehak has maintained a 97% average and while winning various academic awards. As a member and co-chair of the District Student Council, Mehak co-led a Trustee Candidates Forum. She has also spent the past four years involved in sustainability development and mentoring younger students. She’s helped organize a multitude of multicultural events at RSS and was named Class Valedictorian in 2023 while receiving multiple scholarships and awards. 

The successful finalists will receive funding towards their post secondary goals through the Payton and Dillon Budd Memorial Fund Youth Scholarship.

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