Kitchener Youth Action Council (KYAC)

• What is KYAC?
• What are the KYAC Youth Awards
• Who is eligible?
• How to nominate youth?
• When is the nomination deadline?
• How are nominations considered?
• When is the KYAC Youth Awards ceremony?
• Who do I contact if I have questions?

What is KYAC?
The Kitchener Youth Action Council (KYAC) is a group of young volunteers between the ages of 15 and 24 who work with the City of Kitchener acting as a voice for Kitchener youth and raising awareness of issues that affect youth. KYAC members work to ensure that Kitchener is a fun, safe place for youth to live, and to recognize the contributions youth make to our community.

KYAC members also work with City staff to organize special events for youth including Unity Jam, an annual interactive musical celebration, Earth Day events and various activities taking place during National Youth Week May 1-7, 2010.

Each year, the Kitchener Youth Action Council hosts an awards ceremony to celebrate and recognize the talents and contributions of young people in our community. The purpose of the KYAC Youth Awards is to promote a positive image of young people and to generate awareness of the valuable contributions youth make in our community.

What are the KYAC Youth Awards
Each year, the Kitchener Youth Action Council has celebrated and recognized the talents and contributions of young people in our community at an annual awards ceremony at Kitchener City Hall. The purpose of the KYAC Youth Awards is to promote a positive image of young people and to generate awareness of the valuable contributions youth make in our community.

Awards are presented to local youth, recognizing their contributions in the following categories:

• Arts & Culture Award
  Awarded to a young person who has built community through one or more of the following areas; vocal, visual arts, music, multimedia, dance and theatre/drama.
  
  
• Service & Caregiving Award
  Awarded to a young person who has volunteered meaningfully in local charities, organizations and community based groups and has demonstrated the meaning of building a caring community.
  
  
• Entrepreneurship Award
  Awarded to a young person who has demonstrated initiative and creativity through designing and successfully initiating his/her own business and/or through developing an innovative product or service.
  
  
• Environmental Award
  Awarded to a young person who has contributed to the community's environmental health and/or public environmental awareness.
  
  
• Leadership Award
  Awarded to a young person who has shown significant and continuing leadership in a way that improves the quality of life and encourages others.
  
  
• Sports & Recreation Award
  Awarded to a young person who has promoted health and fitness or has excelled in athletics and/or recreational activities and has demonstrated quality team-building, cooperation and leadership skills.
  
  
• Unity in Diversity Award
  Awarded to a young person who has made a significant contribution to promoting unity and multicultural awareness within our community.
  
  
• Social Action & Justice Award
  Awarded to a young person who has taken a stand to bring awareness to an issue or cause through a positive, proactive and solution-focused approach.
  
  
• Personal Triumph Award
  Awarded to a young person who has surmounted obstacles with optimism and hope and has demonstrated perseverance, determination and a passion for life.
  
  
• Intergenerational Award
  Awarded to a young person who has demonstrated a commitment to the belief that the generations can and should be united.
  
  
• Community Contributor Award
  Awarded to a young person who has demonstrated strong involvement and dedication in two or more of the above categories.
  
  
• Group Award
  Awarded to a group of two or more young people who have made a positive contribution to their community through teamwork and collaboration.

Who is eligible?
Nominees must be between the ages of 14 and 24 and must reside within the Kitchener - Waterloo area. Nominees should have done some of their volunteer work, efforts or community contributions within or for the benefit of the Kitchener community.

How to nominate youth?
A complete nomination should have all of the following:

• Submit a nomination online
• Complete the nomination form
• Separate sheet answering the four questions in Part 3: Reasons for Nomination

Nominations may be completed by more than one nominator for the same candidate.
Please do not include photographs with the nomination, if submitted they will not be returned.
The information requested in section 3 of the nomination form will be used to select the winners so the more details you can provide to the committee the more information they have to make their decision. Please ensure your description reflects the candidate's accomplishments in relation to the award category you have selected.

Nominations for the KYAC Youth Awards, or queries concerning the nomination process, should be directed to the City of Kitchener Youth Coordinator:
Mail or email your nomination by Friday, March 12, 2010 to:

When is the nomination deadline?
The nomination forms MUST be submitted by 5 pm Friday, March 12, 2010. Please see the back page for mailing address and contact information. We regret that the KYAC Youth Awards Selection Committee can not accept nominations after the deadline.

How are nominations considered?
The KYAC Youth Awards Selection Committee will consider all nominations. The committee is made up of KYAC members, Mayor Zehr, members of Kitchener City Council, Community Services Department staff and representatives from outside agencies, businesses and groups.

When is the KYAC Youth Awards ceremony?
The awards will be presented at the annual KYAC Youth Awards Ceremony held on Thursday May 6, 2010 (7-8:30pm) in the Rotunda at Kitchener City Hall.
All nominees, nominators, family and friends are invited to attend the ceremony.

Who do I contact if I have questions?
For more information, contact: