Canadian Youth Recognized for Community Impact Projects with Parents and Mentors

The Tidbits of Change Foundation has recognized three young Canadians for partnering with parents or mentors on meaningful community projects, awarding bursaries ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 to support their post-secondary education. Foundation co-founder Hali ScottSmith noted the selection committee faced a difficult task due to numerous inspiring submissions, but three individuals stood out this year for their collaborative initiatives.

Amy Attalla of Fernie, B.C., received the 2025 Tidbits of Change Award for creating Sibshops Fernie, a non-profit organization providing peer support to siblings of children with special needs. Drawing on mentorship from her older sister Joy and leveraging her mother's background in special education and her father's experience in camp leadership and business, Attalla developed workshops where siblings can connect, share experiences, participate in recreational activities, and find community understanding. Foundation co-founder Greg Scott described Attalla's initiative as having remarkable community impact.

Sho Kagawa Brooks, now a student at Toronto Metropolitan University, received a Youth Inspiration Bursary Award presented by HEAD/Tyrolia for co-founding the Sea to Sky Student Short Film Festival. Brooks and his partners worked closely with a mentor from the Whistler Film Festival and their high school vice-principal to develop the festival, which has grown into a platform empowering student filmmakers. Scott noted that Brooks saw an opportunity to create something meaningful, sought out mentorship, and turned it into an inspiring platform for young storytellers.

Kaelyn Smith of Sherwood Park, Alberta, received a Youth Inspiration Bursary Award presented by Kal Tire for partnering with her father to support people experiencing homelessness. The duo volunteered with organizations including The Mustard Seed, PAC Mission, and Hope Mission, and plan to expand their efforts through a project focused on Skid Row in Los Angeles. Scott emphasized that all three collaborative initiatives have made meaningful community impacts while strengthening relationships between youth and their mentors.

The foundation hopes these efforts will create a ripple effect inspiring others to pursue passion projects with mentors. The organization is now accepting applications for 2026 bursaries until April 30, 2026, with more information available at https://tidbitsofchange.org. According to the foundation's philosophy, society benefits when young people collaborate with mentors to create positive community impacts, demonstrating that small changes can make significant differences.