Peel duo among six youth named as ‘Public Heroes’ in the GTA
Mississuaga.com
Nov. 20, 2015
Nouman Khalil
Six youth from the Greater Toronto Area, including two residents of Peel, have been honoured with Public Heroes Awards for their outstanding service and helping to maintain public safety within the community.
On Wednesday, all six received ‘civilian youth’ awards at a media launch ceremony of the annual Public Heroes Awards 2016, held at the historic Court House at the Peel Arts Gallery Museum and Archives in downtown Brampton.
The Intercultural Dialogue Institute GTA hosted the ceremony in partnership with the Peel Regional Police and Peel Regional Paramedic Services.
The goal of the awards is to recognize the dedication and excellence of individual members of police, fire and emergency medical services in the GTA (including RCMP) for delivering their services in an ethnically and culturally diverse environment.
Awards recipients are selected by a committee based on three basic criteria: altruism, dedication and community involvement.
This year’s recipients include Brampton’s Rebecca Reid-Smith and Mississauga’s William Pattison.
Reid-Smith, 17, of Turner Fenton Secondary School, served as a student employee with Peel Regional Police this past summer and participated in police initiatives. She consistently stood out by helping out community members, especially seniors, police said.
“The people I worked with really helped and supported me and told me how to pursue my dreams,” said Reid-Smith. “I am truly honoured.”
Reid-Smith was nominated by Peel Regional Police.
Pattison, 20, is a member of Scouts Canada-Peel Medical Ventures. His nominator, Peel Regional Paramedic Services, said, since joining the group in 2011, Pattison has showed the highest quality of care within the community at large. He is currently a second-year paramedic student at Niagara College and wants to pursue a career in that sector.
“I am incredibly honoured to receive this award today, incredibly humbled as well,” said Pattison. “I didn’t expect to be getting this award at all. I am very thankful.”
A special award of bravery was presented to Vaughan’s Leo Gallo, 12. He demonstrated bravery by helping out a 71-year-old Alzheimer’s sufferer find her way back home.
Other receiving awards included:
- Shirley Zhu, a student of Schulich School of Business, recognized by York Paramedics for her great success as a co-op student;
- Chinelle McDonald, recognized by Toronto Police for being a successful activist in the community;
- Sarah Mustaq of Windsor, honoured by RCMP for her active role in helping out law enforcement agencies connect with the local community; and
- Alexander Da Estrela-Marsico, honoured by Durham Police for his success as a team leader under the Youth in Policing Initiative program.
The actual service awards ceremony for Public Heroes Awards 2016 will be held on April 14 at the Mississauga Convention Centre.
Members of the public can nominate one or more police officers, firefighters or paramedics who work for any of emergency services in the GTA (Peel, Durham, York and Toronto) including the RCMP, OPP, ORNGE and the Correctional Services. Nominations are submitted based on altruism, dedication and community involvement. Deadline for nominations is March 1.
Intercultural Dialogue Institute, the organizer of the awards, is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to promote respect and mutual understanding among all cultures and faiths through partnership with other communities, cultural, religious and interreligious organizations by organizing educational and cultural activities such as seminars, conferences, discussion panels, award ceremonies, interfaith family dinners and cultural exchange trips.
To nominate or for more information, visit http://toronto.interculturaldialog.com.
The Intercultural Dialogue Institute (IDI) and representatives from fire, police and paramedic services across the GTA hosted a Public Heroes Awards event, honouring outstanding young people at the Peel Art allery, Museum & Archives (PAMA) on Wednesday (Nov 18). Twelve year-old Leo Gallo from Vaughan was credited with helping an Alzheimer patient find her way home and received his award from Chief Larry Bentley of the Vaughan Fire & Rescue Services.
