Yesterday evening, twenty-eight young people from across Toronto were recognized for their contributions to community and self-development through The Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Along with family, friends, community members and group leaders, the 28 youth assembled on the executive floor of the TD Tower downtown to recieve Sectional and Bronze Awards, and share their stories and adventures with the others at the ceremony.

The goal of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award is to encourage young people's participation in activities which they already enjoy and others they have yet to experience within a non-competitive and fun environment. The Award involves comprehensive development, self-training and personal acheivement, and is based upon individual effort and improvement in four distinct programme areas: community service, personal skill development, physical recreation, and adventurous journeys.

Bronze Award recipient David McDines, addressed the group after receiving his award, outlining some of the merits of the program in his own personal experience: "For me, personally, I really enjoy being in the company of others that want to part of a programme that allows us to learn, acheive, and contribute as an individual as well as a team."

Yesterday's ceremony was done in partnership with TD Waterhouse, which launched the Investing In Youth program with the Duke of Edinburgh's Award last June. TD Waterhouse employee and Award volunteer Julie-Anne Reid — who had returned from an Award expedition to Rattlesnake Point last weekend — stressed the importance of the wealth of experiences that both participants and leaders get from their activities in the Award: "Some of these young people may not normally have the opportunity to go out and do these kinds of things."

At the end of the evening, Award recipients and their families were treated to a reception on the 54th floor of the TD Tower, and we not only got to enjoy one of the best views of Toronto, but also got to share in the accomplishments of our city's youth.