Kali Pieters honoured by Delhi Chamber of Commerce
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Some people are natural leaders.
Kali Pieters is one of those people.
The Grade 12 student at Delhi District Secondary School is one of two Junior Citizens of the Year named by the Delhi and District Chamber of Commerce.
“Kali is an excellent role model for other students and shows true leadership qualities,” said one of her nominations.
While Pieters acknowledges she often finds herself in leadership positions it is not about power.
“It's not about being in charge. It is about working with others and being a part of the group. You can't just be a leader by yourself,” she said. “I was really surprised (to win the award). There are a lot of really engaged youth and a lot of people that do really amazing things.”
Pieters is the president of the Blue and Gold students' council at DDSS and has been involved with the council all four years of her high school career. She helps organize dances, fundraisers and other school events.
Pieters is also an alumni of the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) conference. She was chosen to attend the conference in Grade 10 and continues to work with the HOBY program as an alumni.
She is currently organizing a local youth leadership conference with another student from Simcoe Composite School.
Pieters has also been a member of the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit's youth volunteer group, Health, Education and Advocacy Team (HEAT) since its formation in 2011.
The group plans and implements community based activities to educate and take action against tobacco and other health issues.
“It's nice because it is directly affecting our community,” she said, unlike the work she has done in the past for Me to We, which helps people internationally.
On top of that she is also a member of her school's Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASSIST) team.
Upon graduation, Pieters hopes to pursue a career in social work after university.
“I just like seeing what I can do for other people,” she said.
The Junior Citizen of the Year award will be given out at the Chamber of Commerce's annual general meeting at the Polish Alliance of Canada's hall on May 1.
Sarah Doktor
519-426-3528 ext. 112
sarah.doktor@sunmedia.ca
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