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(RDCRS)
provincial award

Young Indigenous student in Sylvan Lake recognized for commitment to education

Sep 28, 2022 | 1:42 PM

Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools is celebrating one of its students after he received a provincial 2022 Honouring Spirit: Indigenous Student Awards this past summer.

Presented by the Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA), the awards are presented to students, “who model strength and commitment in the pursuit of their personal educational paths.”

Ryan Leclerc, now in Grade 9 at École Mother Teresa in Sylvan Lake, was the recipient of the Grades 7-9 award for ASBA’s Central Zone, and is the first ever Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools’ recipient.

The ASBA received 270 nominations from across the province.

“Trustees across the province, through the Alberta School Boards Association, are pleased to recognize the significant achievements of Indigenous students,” said Board Chair, Anne Marie Watson at Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools. “Locally, the Red Deer Catholic Schools Board of Trustees is very proud of Ryan for being one of only 12 students recognized in the last school year.”

Leclerc was recognized in a ceremony on June 25 at Government House which included remarks from Lieutenant Governor Salma Lakhani and others.

“I just want to thank my teachers, my parents and friends,” says Leclerc. “And I’m just proud to be who I am.”

His principal, Jeff Tuchscherer, also commented on Leclerc’s willingness to share his “abundance of pride in his heritage” with those around him.

“He demonstrates a humble leadership in our school community while sharing a diverse blend of talents,” says Tuchscherer. “This young man is a worthy representative of both his Indigenous and school communities.”