The RBC Spirit Awards are an annual event that celebrates the extraordinary accomplishments of youth who are making our community, and the world a better place. The event itself is a complete celebration of young people.
Our audience is introduced to an exceptional group of youth who encourage and motivate others, who demonstrate outstanding initiative and creativity, and who have overcome tremendous adversity through their passion for life. We have the honour and privilege of sharing their incredible stories, passion, and dedication with our guests, in hopes of inspiring others to step up and make a difference in their own communities.
Due to the unique circumstances of 2020, we are prepared to host this event virtually if the need arises but for the moment we are planning for an in-person event at the National Arts Centre. We are excited to announce that whichever way we hold the event, we know it will be our greatest Spirit Awards yet!
Youth Ottawa is looking for exceptional young people to honour at the upcoming RBC Spirit of the Capital Youth Awards. If you know, or are, a young person helping to make your community a better place, we want to hear from you.
Awards are presented in the following categories: Academic Perseverance, Arts & Culture, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Service & Caring, Strength Through Diversity, Take a Stand and the Max Keeping Award for Personal Courage.
These categories are designed to broaden our appreciation for what is being done in our community from the smallest gesture to international efforts.
As leaders in the community, this is a unique opportunity for you to celebrate and give back to tomorrow’s leaders! Download our information package to learn more about the different ways you can get involved with the awards!
Hear from past spirit alumni. Alumni share what the awards meant to them and how they are continuing their work in the community after receiving the award.
Zaineb Al-Faesly, a structural engineering master’s student at the University of Ottawa, was one of the recipients of the Strength Through Diversity Award in 2018. Along with pursuing her masters, Zaineb is a Teaching Assistant at the Faculty of Engineering and Manager at the University of Ottawa’s Richard L’Abbé MakerSpace. Zainab is thankful to the Spirit of the Capital Awards for encouraging her to continue her academic journey.
The awards have given Zaineb a stronger sense of belonging. Although she calls Canada home, she wasn’t always sure that she fit in. “Receiving the Strength Through Diversity Award has affirmed that who I am and what I do matters,” Zaineb told us. When asked what advice Zainab would give to youth, she said, “Raise your hand, seek opportunities, and get involved. Feeling doubtful and uncertain? That’s great! Growth happens outside of our comfort zone, so honor these hesitations. They will help shape the future you.”
Jennifer is a first-year Studio Arts student at Concordia University involved in the Fine Arts Student Alliance, the FASA Board of Directors, and the Concordia Film Festival. She received the 2018 Arts & Culture Award after being nominated by her guidance counselor, Toula Makris. Jennifer remembers the awards as a very special moment. “It wasn’t just an award to me. It was a formal encouragement to continue what I’m doing – seeing that I can actually make a difference in the community,” she told us.
The bursary she received with the award encouraged Jennifer to apply to Concordia, using the money for tuition and materials for her studio classes. In Montreal, Jennifer has fully immersed herself in the art scene. “Attending Concordia University with the bursary money has enabled me to meet so many artists and community leaders, and it has opened up opportunities for networking and collaboration.”
Receiving the award broadened Jennifer’s perception of art as a form of community service. She uses her art to raise awareness for mental illness and eating disorders, with which she herself has struggled.
Knowing that there are organizations that recognize youth encouraged Jennifer to use her power as a young person to spark change. Sharing her story through the arts piqued an interest in expressive arts therapy and its use in treatment for mental illness. Since then, she has worked on several education projects around the stigma and misconceptions of eating disorders.
Maya Masudde is a 21-year-old spoken word artist, author, founder of the women’s spoken word showcase ‘Tell ‘Em Girl’, and keynote speaker participating in events such as TEDxUOttawaWomen, Families in Canada Conference, and the Global Community Alliance Gala. With these accomplishments at such a young age, where did her journey begin?
In 2017, Maya was nominated by her mother, Althea Basudde, for the Arts & Culture Award for using her art to make a difference. After receiving the award, Maya spent several months contemplating what she would do with bursary. She decided to use the funds to start her own poetry showcase, Tell ‘Em Girl, with the hope of giving women a platform to tell their stories. She launched Tell ‘Em Girl in the summer of 2017 with a sold-out event. Today, Maya continues to sell out events across the city that spread hope and empowerment.
Maya thanks the RBC Spirit Awards for encouraging her to share her story and poetry. “Being recognized for the award was one of the first times that I felt like what I was doing was important,” she told us. Maya hopes that Tell ‘Em Girl will continue to be a safe space where women can be bold and confident.
She believes that the Spirit Awards empower youth to move beyond their comfort zone. When asked what advice Maya would give to other youth, she said: “Nothing is ever impossible. If you have a dream, continue to pursue it because you are always capable of more than you think. If you had told me that I would be a recipient of this award and that I would be doing everything that I am doing now, I would have told you it was impossible. I’m glad I decided to challenge those odds.”
As an Indigenous youth, Gannaboute says the Spirit Awards also showed him that there are organizations and people standing behind him in a world where there is so much resistance to his equity work. The award led Gannaboute to continue his involvement with Youth Ottawa by becoming a member of OYEC. On OYEC, Gannaboute is a member of the Indigenous Working Group and is working with the City to secure accessible spaces and activities for local Indigenous-led youth organizations, like the Assembly of 7 Generations.
Gannaboute believes that the awards offer an official source of appreciation for young people who are striving for something more. “We all need that push to get us to the finish line. In my opinion, the awards keep fantastic youth motivated towards achieving their goals.”
Falicia is a young Indigenous student at Gloucester High School and winner of the 2018 Take a Stand Award along with her friends Jesse Kavanaugh and Emily Taylor. Falicia plays an important role in the OCDSB’s Original Voice Youth Council which organizes an Indigenous Youth Symposium for the entire school board, bringing together over 300 students each year. She is an advocate for the rights of LGTBQ2+ people despite the negative effects of colonization on Indigenous communities and their perception of gender and sexuality.
Falicia was first introduced to Youth Ottawa by A7G – The Assembly of Seven Generations – an organization that frequently collaborates with Youth Ottawa. A7G is an Indigenous-owned and youth-led non-profit organization focused on cultural support and empowerment programs for Indigenous youth led by traditional knowledge and Elder guidance. Facilita frequently works with A7G to bring recognition to Indigenous issues and fundraise for young Indigenous people to take part in activities.
Most recently, Falicia, Emily and Jesse, built a new lodge (safe space) at Gloucester High. Falicia told us that being recognized for the award meant her efforts and the efforts of her group in bettering the community are making an impact, and has encouraged her to continue modeling Indigenous values.
