This year, the title of Junior Citizen of the Year is awarded to Natalya Shevchuk, a Grade 12 student at North Battleford Comprehensive High School.
In letters of recommendation sent to the Citizen of the Year selection committee, Natalya is described as bright, hard working and a contributor to the community.
"It's really nice to know these people have seen what I do and they see that I've made a difference," said Natalya. "I know it's cheesy, but I really love and enjoy volunteering and the fact that my school has seen it and notices it is really heartwarming."
It's no surprise that teachers and staff at NBCHS have taken notice of Natalya, as she's involved in many activities in the school, including her role as Vice President of the Interact Club, an extension of the Rotary Club run by high school students.
Natalya says, through the Interact Club, "We try and help a local cause and an international cause each year. We did a haunted house for the Animal Shelter and we are helping with backpacks they give to children who are taken out of their homes through Social Services. So [the children] get something that's their own, like a toy, food, blankets and clothes."
Natalya has also participated in the Cake Decorating Club, the Student Representative Council and the Debate Club and has competed in baking at Skills Canada.
"My school is super supportive," said Natalya. "They have the IB program there which is a great opportunity for students. It gives me a chance to pursue opportunities after high school. The teachers at my school really help me and understand how I need to learn.
"I am an IB diploma candidate, so I have to do the hours and extended essays. It's a very demanding workload, but I really try and help my community as well."
Natalya credits her parents and her Ukrainian heritage for her passion for community involvement.
"Being Ukrainian is a really unique thing. We do lots of things in the community. Volunteering and helping people is something that's in our genes it seems like," she said.
Both her parents give back to the community, whether through volunteering or fundraising, so she was exposed to it at a young age. "My parents have always wanted and have always been part of the community since we were little. Being Ukrainian," she said, "we like to be involved in everything."
When Natalya was only 15 years old she planned her first fundraiser event, although her family, especially her dad, were a big help. Her younger siblings, her sister Marusia and brother Ivan, also pitched in, "They're super supportive and they always want to help out along with me."
Recently, Natalya was recognized by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, and her siblings were there to support her during the ceremony.
"I won the Youth Achievement Award and they were in the audience and started crying. And it's really nice to have them so supportive. Whatever I need it's like they're my little assistants and they're really helpful."
The three Shevchuk siblings also share a love of Ukrainian dance, a piece of heritage their father participated in as well.
"We do trios together and everything, so it's really cute," said Natalya.
It was this love for dancing, shared by her family, that Natalya harnessed for her first fundraiser.
"I have been dancing here in town since I was five years old with the Svoboda dancers for Ukrainian dancing and the dance connection. I recently started going to Saskatoon, three years ago now, to dance with the Pavlychenko Folklorique Ensemble. My dad used to dance there, so it's a bond that we have and we drive to Saskatoon together and I can kind of follow in his footsteps."
It was on one of these car rides to Saskatoon that she first got the idea to hold a fundraiser.
"We heard on the radio [they were] in desperate need of a new building and the funds had been slowing down and weren't coming in as much as they wanted. It was around Malanka time, so we thought 'why not try that.'
"I mean, I eat, breathe, sleep, dance — so dancing was the best way I knew to reach my community for a cause I thought was worthy," she said.
The result, Dancers Who Care, a combination of her love of Ukrainian dancing and community involvement, was an evening of dinner and dance with proceeds going toward BTEC.
"It's kind of similar to our Malanka that we do for our Ukrainian dancing. We have a silent auction, a supper and a dance afterwards and there's performers from around North Battleford. It's to show that we care about our community," said Natalya.
The first annual Dancers Who Care fundraiser was held in the Don Ross Centre in March 2015. The event raised more than $7,000 and grew even bigger the next year.
"We had about 53 dancers last year compared to the 20 we had the first year and people are already asking about this year's," she said.
Fundraising for BTEC and seeing the affect the new facility has had on its clients has been an especially gratifying experience for Natalya.
"It's such an amazing place," she said. "It's big and bright and beautiful and the clients, on their faces, have this big and bright, beautiful smile. It's amazing the changes they've had since they've been in this new building, and I'm hoping to do it again this year. They still need some landscaping and sensory rooms."
Since it was first held, Dancers Who Care has raised $16,000 for BTEC and plans are underway for the next fundraiser.
With high school graduation next on her to-do list, Natalya is looking forward to starting at the University of Saskatchewan, where she hopes to to apply to the School of Dentistry after the required year of arts and sciences.
Given what she's already accomplished before she has even graduated from high school, after that, the sky's the limit.
Citizens of the Year to be honoured Feb. 3 at WDM
Citizen of the Year Pat Gotto and Junior Citizen of the Year Natalya Shevchuk will be honoured at a banquet Friday, Feb. 3, at the Western Development Museum.
Tickets are available at the Discovery Co-op administration office located at Territorial Place Mall beginning Jan. 3.
The Battlefords Citizen of the Year awards are sponsored by the Battlefords News-Optimist, Discovery Co-op and the North Battleford Lions Club.
For further information contact Alana Schweitzer, publisher, Battlefords News-Optimist, 306-445-7261 or Glen Gantefoer, Discovery Co-op, 306-445-9800.
