2022
Yes I can
Leadership
Award recipients
2022 AWARD RECIPIENT
Marissa
Magsino
Marissa Magsino is a grade 11 student at St. Mary’s Academy in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Marissa has been participating in science fairs for the past 5 years. She enjoys the challenge of developing a new research project every year, or in this case, building upon her research from previous years. It is exciting for her to compete every year because she enjoys sharing the results of her project to various groups, mentors and judges and finding new innovative
Marissa Magsino
discoveries. Her research has been in the areas of environmental science and climate change. Marissa’s project this year is titled “Behavioral modification of Tenebrio molitor by toxic compounds to maximize the biodegradation of polystyrene”. This project is the 4th phase of
her multiple-year research utilizing mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) to naturally consume styrofoam. With the exponential use of polystyrene in our consumer-based society and its detrimental impact on climate change, she is researching innovative ways to harness the power
of nature to find practical, sustainable and biological solutions for our planet.
Marissa has tested and applied her research at her school and she also leads a club (SMA Green Team) that is committed to environmentally friendly initiatives (like composting) in her school community. In addition to participating in science fairs, Marissa is also a debater who has
competed in Provincial and National school competitions in Canada. Marissa is an active member of the Winnipeg Optimist Athletics Track and Field Club and enjoys hiking outdoors.
With her busy schedule, she finds time to work at a sports retailer, Sport Chek. She also took her hobby of making custom soaps and turned it into an online business, and participates in craft shows and farmer’s markets in her community. Her highly rated business and online
platforms have allowed her to reach an audience across Canada. Marissa has 10 years of training in dance, enjoys playing the piano, and has participated in school musicals throughout the years.
2022 AWARD RECIPIENT
Divya
Sharma
Divya Sharma has a genuine desire to connect and create community and has set a remarkable bar for herself.
Sharma is the youngest board member of Asian Women of Winnipeg, won an Empower Women 20/20 award from Manitoba Status of Women, a Solidarity Award from the United Nations and the Honour 150 award from Manitoba 150 for her volunteer efforts to provide care packages for essential workers.
Divya Sharma
Growing up in India, and inspired by her father, Kamal Sharma, and her Amir Chand Sharma, she witnessed the concept of seva, or selfless service, at her local Gurudwara and knew that serving others was something she wanted to do.
When her family moved to Canada, Sharma turned her desire to give back into a method for finding her way in a new life. When she learned about Terry Fox in elementary school, she realized that philanthropy is ingrained in the Canadian experience as well.
Divya aims to promote Indigenous Reconciliation, youth involvement and diversity through sharing her skills in leadership, public speaking, budgeting, and strategic planning to build strong communities for all.
“Youth are not only the next generation but the change we aspire to see today.”
2022 AWARD RECIPIENT
Tréchelle
Bunn
Tréchelle Bunn is an athlete, university student and advocate. A member of the Birdtail Sioux Dakota Nation, Bunn is a three-time Academic All-Canadian; Academic All-Canadians are exceptional student-athletes who achieve an academic standing of 80 percent or better while competing in the USports League.
Bunn was the 2022 Recipient of the University of Manitoba's Indigenous Award of Excellence for Community Building; This prestigious award recognizes a student who
Tréchelle Bunn
serves as a role model, builds relationships and community, and demonstrates initiative in advancing Indigenous engagement at UM. She was also recognized as the 2022 Recipient of the UMSU Award for Indigenous Community Leaders: This award recognizes Indigenous students who are leaders in their communities.
She is the Founder and Race Director of the Reconciliation Run: which is Canada's first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Half-Marathon.
Tréchelle is an Indigenious network representative for Jack.org; Jack.org is a national non-profit focused on young leaders revolutionizing mental health in Canada. As the suicide rate among Indigenous peoples is higher than any other population and many of our communities are facing a mental health crisis, she advocates for communities to receive mental health awareness and suicide prevention education rooted in Indigenous teachings and facilitated by fellow Indigenous peoples.
She is an alumna of the Indigenous Circle of Empowerment; ICE is a highly competitive student group for Indigenous leaders at the University of Manitoba. It builds and expands students' leadership and is rooted in self-development and community involvement. It allows students to network with notable Indigenous leaders across the province and gain professionalism.
She is a Youth Delegate for Generation for Equality - Native Women's Association of Canada: NWAC selected Indigenous youth leaders from across the country to gather at their HQ in Ottawa to discuss gender inequality and share visions for a more equitable future for the next generation.
Tréchelle was a Winnipeg Aboriginal Film Festival Guest Speaker and video contributor: On the opening night of the 2021 Winnipeg Aboriginal Film Festival, she shared her Kunshi (Grandmother) Mildred's story of resilience as a residential school survivor. Video footage from the July 2021 Healing Walk that she organized was included in the opening video of the festival alongside footage of her Kunshi Mildred sharing her experience at Birtle Residential School.
2022 AWARD RECIPIENT
Brianne
Sanderson
Brianne Sanderson, named after her father and one of her greatest inspirations and heroes, Brian Sanderson, grew up 2 hours north of Winnipeg in Pinaymootang First Nation.
Growing up in Pinaymootang First Nation presented challenges, however Brianne enjoyed a fun childhood filled with fishing and often attended Sunday school with her grandmother and siblings.
Education was a high priority for Brianne’s
Brianne Sanderson
parents, and they ensure that she complete high school, which she did with 15 other people from a school with an average of 300 people.
After graduation, she worked as an education assistant for the school system in Pinaymootang, which she really enjoyed and sparked a passion for education. A year after graduation, she enrolled in the Faculty of Education at the University of Winnipeg and left Pinaymootang First Nations.
After moving to Winnipeg, Brianne decided to change fields and began a course from the Manitoba Construction Sector Council, that introduced her to the trades of Carpentry.
Shortly after she finished the course; she received her first construction job as a framer in the city. It was intimidating but through her training she felt confident that she could do the job. Brianne feels that one of the most important assets of trades is confidence, she believes you need to really believe in yourself, and it doesn’t matter if others do; but it is nice when you know someone else believes in you too.
Sanderson is currently employed with Pennco where she has worked on northern schools, water treatment plants, a police station, the new National Research Centre in Winnipeg, and the Churchill marine observatory.
It has been 5 years since Sanderson completed that entry course and she will be writing her final exam for her Red Seal in December 2022. Reflecting on the last 5 years, she feels humbled. One of her goals when she began her trades journey was to be able to be financially stable on her own; and she feels she has accomplished that goal.
2022 AWARD RECIPIENT
Samia Ouihya
Samia Ouihya graduated from the University of St. Boniface with a general Bachelor of Science degree. She is now completing her studies as a pharmacy student at the University of Manitoba. Since the start of her studies, she has also successfully been managing international popstar on the rise, Faouzia. Samia has played a key role in growing Faouzia's collective social media platforms to over 6 million followers and over 100 million Spotify streams.
Samia Ouihya
She has also taken part in bringing opportunities forward such as Faouzia's collaboration with multi-Grammy winning artist, John Legend, all while still striving to complete her degree in pharmacy. She plans to continue her managerial and school dreams, fulfilling her passion for science and music.