Area teen a provincial Citizen of the Year

Provincial Citizen of the Year. TD Canada Trust branch manager Colleen J. Volpel, left, Parry Sound North Star assistant general manager Doug Pincoe and Direct Energy sales consultant Gerry Spencer, far right, present an 2009 Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Award nomination certificate to Parry Sound High School teen Jackson Kuhn last month. Kuhn was one of 12 finalists selected from 130 youth nominated for the awards, and will spend a day in Queen’s Park at a ceremony hosted by David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. The awards are led by the Ontario Community Newspaper Assocation, and sponsored by TD Canada Trust and Direct Energy. Jack Tynan/North Star

PARRY SOUND – One of the area’s own, Jackson Kuhn, is among 12 Ontario teens honoured with an annual Junior Citizen of the Year award.
Kuhn, 17, was among 130 teens across the province nominated for the award, which recognizes the community involvement of young Ontarians. On January 22, the Ontario Community Newspaper Association (OCNA) announced he was a finalist.
“I was very surprised,” said Kuhn. “I know I did lots of medium-sized things, but not one huge thing like some of the winners. I was really surprised and I’m really excited.”
His nominators described Kuhn as a teen who has overcome many obstacles while maintaining a positive and motivating attitude “that touches many people in our community.”
Among a long list of accomplishments, Kuhn is the head of the environment club at Parry Sound High School, organized and ran a local water festival for younger students, participates in his local church youth group, volunteers to help a widowed neighbour with maintenance projects, works as a referee, sends money to a missionary friend in Malawi, was a councillor at a children’s camp where he excelled in working with those who have special needs, is on his school’s assembly committee, and excels in multiple school and extra-curricular sports. He does it all while maintaining high marks in school.
“Jackson is an exceptional young man and leads a full life pursuing academic studies, sports and recreational activities,” said Rob Donevan, who is Kuhn’s family physician and has coached him. “He is a ‘go-getter’, passionate and enthusiastic about whatever he plunges into. He is always ready to help and is a true team member/player. I believe Jackson is deserving of recognition as a leader, a student athlete and as a role model for youth.”
A number of community members submitted praise of Kuhn with his nomination late last year, including Grade 12 teacher Graham Poole.
“I have always appreciated Jackson’s enthusiasm, his engagement, and his whole-hearted support for other people – students and adults – in a wide variety of situations,” Poole wrote. “He is an effective motivator of his peers in a range of situations, ranging from school assemblies to student led workshops, where he often serves as a leader.”
Kuhn, whose father died in an accident when he was nine years old, said that experience, and the support of his mother, his high school teachers and the community have framed his zealous approach to life.
“I wouldn’t be who I am without that,” he said. “You grasp every day. Even if you have a bad day, you don’t want to be remembered for that, because you never know. So I just like to put a smile on people’s faces.”
Kuhn said he hopes other youth can also choose their own direction – part of what he identifies as the key to earning the respect that helped him win the provincial award.
“It’s being able to say no,” he said. “It’s so easy to say yes, and yes can take you great places, but you need to be able to make your own path.”
On March 29, all 12 Ontario Junior Citizens and their families are invited to attend a ceremony at Queen’s Park officiated by Lieutenant Governor David C. Onley.
The Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Awards are run through 311 member newspapers of the OCNA with the support of corporate sponsors TD Canada Trust and Direct Energy.

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