When you're great, you're great

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Sixteen "Great Kids" from across Alberta received recognition for their contributions to their families and communities on Family Day, as the first ever Great Kids Awards were handed out.

Among those receiving the awards were Tannis Boudrea from the Saddle Lake First Nation community, and Jasmine Poitras-John from the Bonnyville/Kehewin area.

Nine-year-old Tannis Boudreau is a Grade 3 student at Onchaminahos school. Tannis was nominated for the Great Kids award by Valerie Dennehy, who taught her in Grade 2.

"She's an outstanding child," Dennehy said of her former student, adding that when she received the nomination form, Tannis "was the first person that popped into my mind."

Tannis was student of the year in Dennehy's class last year.

"She's just a great kid," Dennehy said. "For a child that young, she's got a lot to offer the world."

Tannis has won Cree speech competitions, regularly volunteers to give the Cree morning prayer at school, and often helps younger children learn Cree. She also powwow dances, and was selected as Onchaminahos school's Powwow Princess when she was in Grade 1. Tannis is a helpful girl, often taking time to help her classmates and the younger children at school, and regularly spends her lunch hours selling milk to fellow students as part of a fundraising project, raising money for school field trips. Tannis also helps out at home.

"She helps out her mom a lot, and is a wonderful sister to her little brother," Dennehy said. Tannis is also a member of the Saddle Lake Boys and Girls Club.

"I'm very proud that she received the award," Dennehy said, "I'm proud for her and I'm proud for our school. We have wonderful children coming to our school."

Ten-year-old Jasmine Poitras-John is a Grade 5 student at Dr. Bernard Brosseau school in Bonnyville.

Jasmine is involved in Metis dancing - both jigging and square dance - and Native dancing - fancy shawl and jingle dress - and has performed at many events, including the Bonnyville Canadian Native Friendship Centre's National Aboriginal Day celebration, Canada Day celebrations, and at the Elk Point Senior Citizens' Centre and at school events. Jasmine said she has been dancing since she was five years old, and likes that dancing lets her demonstrate culture and traditions.

Jasmine was nominated for the award by her aunt, Alice John. John said she nominated her niece because of the community work she's done, promoting Native culture through her dancing, and because of her academic efforts, achieving a 94 per cent average.

"She promoted the Native culture very well in her dancing", John said. "For someone of such a young age, she's a positive role model for others."

In addition to her dancing, Jasmine has also been involved in raising donations for cancer research by twice taking part in the Terry Fox Run, and has also helped to provide Christmas gifts for less-fortunate children around the world through the Operation Christmas Child program. For the past year, she has also been writing articles for a local newspaper on behalf of her school.

In her spare time, Jasmine enjoys reading chapter books. She is looking forward to receiving the computer that comes along with the Great Kids award, and expects to be using the internet quite a bit. "It's cool," she said. When she grows up, Jasmine wants to be a doctor.

The Great Kids awards were handed out at the Calgary Zoo on Feb. 21, presented to the children by Premier Ralph Klein and Iris Evans, minister of children's services.

The winners were also recognized during events in Edmonton a day later, treated to a tour of the Edmonton Space and Science Centre, followed by a special reception at Government House, and a trip to the Alberta Legislature where they were introduced to the Legislative Assembly.