Three Canadian Youth Honored for Community Projects Developed with Parents and Mentors

The Tidbits of Change Foundation has recognized three young Canadians for developing meaningful community projects in partnership with a parent or mentor, awarding them bursaries to support their post-secondary education. The foundation celebrates youth who collaborate on significant initiatives and provides financial awards ranging from $1,000 to $5,000. Hali ScottSmith, co-founder of the foundation, noted the difficulty in selecting recipients from many impressive submissions, expressing pride in supporting the education of these standout individuals.

Amy Attalla of Fernie, B.C., received the 2025 Tidbits of Change Award for founding Sibshops Fernie, a non-profit offering peer support to siblings of children with special needs. Inspired by her own experience with a younger sister, Attalla developed workshops that allow siblings to connect, share experiences, and participate in recreational activities. She drew upon mentorship from her older sister and leveraged her mother's background in special education and her father's experience in camp leadership and business to build the organization. Greg Scott, co-founder of the foundation, described Attalla's initiative as having a remarkable community impact.

Sho Kagawa Brooks, now a student at Toronto Metropolitan University, was awarded a Youth Inspiration Bursary presented by HEAD/Tyrolia for co-founding the Sea to Sky Student Short Film Festival. Brooks and his partners worked closely with a mentor from the Whistler Film Festival and their high school vice-principal to create the event, which has grown into a platform empowering student filmmakers. Scott highlighted how Brooks identified an opportunity, sought mentorship, and built an inspiring platform for young storytellers. More information about the foundation and its programs is available at https://tidbitsofchange.org.

Kaelyn Smith of Sherwood Park, Alta., a student at Grant MacEwan University, received a Youth Inspiration Bursary presented by Kal Tire for partnering with her father on homelessness outreach. They volunteered with organizations including The Mustard Seed, PAC Mission, and Hope Mission, and plan to expand their efforts through a project focused on Skid Row in Los Angeles. Scott remarked that all three collaborative initiatives have made meaningful impacts in their communities, with the added benefit of strengthening personal relationships.

The foundation hopes these stories will create a ripple effect, inspiring others to pursue their own passion projects through intergenerational collaboration. It is now accepting applications for 2026 bursaries until April 30, 2026. These awards underscore the significant societal benefits that emerge when youth work alongside mentors to address community needs, demonstrating how focused partnerships can lead to tangible improvements and inspire broader civic engagement.