Inaugural recipient of Patina Prize announced

Leslie Spence, 21, of Webequie First Nation, is the inaugural recipient of the Patina Prize, named for Richard Patina, long-term chairman of the DAREarts Board of Directors. DAREarts is a national charity, which reaches more than 13,000 children annually with the power of the arts to transform lives. On an annual basis, $4,000 of the prize will be divided equally to empower children directly through DAREarts programs in Nova Scotia, Rexdale, Ontario, Nishnawbe Aski First Nations in remote northern Ontario, and British Columbia. The final $1,000 of the Patina Prize will be awarded annually to one DAREarts graduate youth who has demonstrated particular need of these funds to further their post-secondary education. The family will work with the DAREarts president to make this choice.