Victoria-Marie Cusson, 15

Victoria-Marie Cusson is a young woman with a purpose in life. As someone with a great passion for protecting the environment, Victoria-Marie has been working on a series of renewable energy projects for the past three years. In 2007, she invented a portable composting system which makes it possible to effectively transform organic waste into fertile black soil. In 2008, she developed a portable system which makes it possible to produce bio-gas for cooking using organic kitchen waste. Feeding off her past successes, Anne-Marie is currently working on a series of experiments aimed at producing ethanol gas from organic waste. Victoria-Marie’s efforts have been recognized at Expo-sciences pancanadienne, where she placed second in 2007 and 2009, and first in 2008 earning a $10,000 bursary in the process. Victoria-Marie is an exemplary pupil at College catholique Samuel-Genest where she has won a number of academic awards including the highest academic standing in Grade 9. She is also an impassioned soccer player, having played on the the Gloucester Hornets regional team for the past five years. For for the past two years Victoria-Marie has tutored two children age 9 and 11 in French, English and mathematics. For her efforts in developing renewable energy sources and for attaining a high academic standing, Victoria-Marie Cusson has been selected as one of this year’s Outstanding Youth Awards.

Ashley Backstrom , 17

Ashley Backstrom is a gifted soccer player and a well-rounded student in
The Sport-Études program at École secondaire publique Louis-Riel. While preparing for the Nepean Hotspurs OYSL season opener in May 2008, Ashley noticed enlarged glands in her neck and what appeared to be a rash on her back. Concerned that she would miss the game, Ashley waited to see her family doctor until the following Monday. After a series of blood tests and a trip to CHEO, Ashley was diagnosed with acute leukemia. Her soccer career would have to be put on hold while she underwent aggressive cancer treatment. Despite the debilitating side effects, Ashley came out to cheer her teammates on every chance she could. Last spring, she helped inspire the Louis-Riel Rebelles senior girls soccer team to an upset win at the OFSAA provincial championships. She was also asked to be the Ambassador child for the Sears National Kids Cancer Ride and inspired her fellow students to take part in the Relay for Life. This past June her blood counts were high enough for her to practice with her team again and in early July she played in her first full game in over a year. Throughout her ordeal, Ashley has kept an extremely positive attitude. For refusing to let her illness effect her spirit and for inspiring her fellow students and teammates, Ashley Backstrom has been selected as a recipient of one of this year’s Outstanding Youth Awards.