2019 Loran Scholars

Abnash Bassi
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2019
University of Toronto
Seaquam Secondary School
Delta
British Columbia

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Abnash is co-president of her school’s environmental club, organizing workshops at local elementary schools and community campaigns. She is co-president of her school’s debate and model UN club and a Climate Action Fellow with Be the Change Earth Alliance. Abnash participates in VEX robotics, is a member of MP Carla Qualtrough’s Constituency Youth Council, and coaches basketball. Close Bio

Béatrice Allard
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2019
University of Ottawa
Cégep de Saint-Laurent
Montréal
Quebec

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Béatrice hosts a podcast promoting conversations between youth and leaders. She launched a campaign against rape culture that is now airing in several Cegeps. She sings and plays piano and trombone. As a youth consultant, Béatrice is involved with the Canadian Cancer Society and the Théâtre d’Aujourd’hui. She works as a swimming instructor at YMCA and is a member of the board of directors at her local Caisse Desjardins. Close Bio

Bethany Kolisniak
Temerty Loran Scholar - 2019
University of British Columbia Okanagan
St. Mary’s Academy
Winnipeg
Manitoba

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Bethany works with disabled youth at the Rehabilitation Centre for Children. At school, she leads the Human Rights Team and LGBTQ+ safe space and plays on the rugby team. Bethany organized a fundraiser for a refugee family and was a UN Commission on the Status of Women delegate. She plays violin and formerly played with the Winnipeg Youth Orchestras. Close Bio

Bianca Matthews
Loran Scholar - 2019
McGill University
Turner Fenton Secondary School
Brampton
Ontario

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Bianca chairs a PDSB-wide leadership conference which promotes the acquisition of leadership abilities in high schoolers. She self-published her own poetic dossier surrounding mental health and is currently advocating for the permanent implementation of mental health resources within her school. Bianca actively participates in sports like rugby and kickboxing. She worked as an instructor at Kumon Learning Centre. Close Bio

Chan-Min Roh
Scotiabank Loran Scholar - 2019
University of Toronto
Luther College High School
Regina
Saskatchewan

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Chan-Min served on the leadership committee of Saskatchewan’s Youth Parliament as the Minister of Constituent Affairs, and is the leader of his high school debate team. He co-leads the peer support group at his school and captained the school soccer team. Close Bio

Chidi Umenwofor-Nweze
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2019
University of Waterloo
The Mahindra United World College of India
Paud, India
-

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Chidinma is co-captain of her robotics team. She assists in a computer literacy program in a village near her school. She was a chorister and recently portrayed Alexander Hamilton in a student-led production of "Hamilton". She has undertaken infrastructural projects, such as a bus shelter and pediatric unit, within the Government of Nunavut. Close Bio

Christina Wong
BMO Loran Scholar - 2019
Queen's University
Glace Bay High School
Glace Bay
Nova Scotia

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Christina is a leader in her school band, a student council executive, and a founding member of a mental health awareness group. As co-leader of her school’s Me to We group, she plans initiatives for local and international organizations. Christina helped establish an annual food drive for her community. She volunteers at a local museum and works as a cashier. Close Bio

Cole Langer
John H. McArthur Loran Scholar - 2019
Western University
Matthew McNair Secondary School
Richmond
British Columbia

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Cole is the president of his school’s student council and free breakfast program. He competes in high-level soccer and ball hockey, acted in multiple school theatre productions, and was a youth delegate at Canada’s 150th celebrations in Ottawa. A regular volunteer, he was a student leader at South Arm Community Centre and serves as a district soccer referee. Close Bio

Emily Simon
BMO Loran Scholar - 2019
University of New Brunswick
John Paul II Collegiate
North Battleford
Saskatchewan

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Emily created and operates her own non-profit organization. She is involved in her school community taking on many leadership roles, such as the Senior Ring on her Student Representative Counsel. Emily teaches skating with her local skating club. She loves to help locally and travels globally to do her mission work. Close Bio

Emma Willoughby
Rebanks Family Loran Scholar - 2019
Queen's University
École Sir John Franklin High School
Yellowknife
Northwest Territories

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Emma volunteer coaches girls' basketball and plays for her school and territorial basketball teams. She also worked as a peer leader for new coming and immigrant students and is currently a co-chair of her school's grad council. She is a leader in training for an organization that runs wilderness camps for at-risk youth and plays in her school band. Close Bio

Esha Mahmood
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2019
University of British Columbia
Banting Memorial High School
New Tecumseth
Ontario

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Esha is the student council president, organizer for Black History club, and founder of her school's Jack.org chapter – a youth mental wellness organization. She aids students in the transition to high school and helps young people to develop their leadership skills through her involvement with Count Me In Summit. She volunteers with Me to We and travelled to Kenya to build a school. Close Bio

Everett Horner
Kipnes Loran Scholar - 2019
University of Alberta
Barrie North Collegiate Institute
Barrie
Ontario

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Everett is the Barrie Air Cadet Squadron Commander, and volunteers with local veterans and a Classic Aircraft Foundation. Everett has a black belt in taekwondo, coaches alpine skiing, and officiates soccer and rugby. Everett is bilingual and has a passion for exploration. Everett is also a proud SHAD Fellow. Close Bio

Finn Hafting
Dobson Loran Scholar - 2019
Western University
Annapolis West Education Centre
Annapolis Royal
Nova Scotia

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Finn is a founder of the Annapolis Climbing Gym and the Annapolis Innovation Lab/Makerspace. He teaches robotics workshops, co-created a high-altitude ballooning group, and is a competitive robotics world champion. Finn leads community climb events as a climbing instructor. He composes music, plays piano/trumpet, and competes in athletics. Finn works as a soccer coordinator, referee, and lifeguard. Close Bio

Geneviève Doiron
Rebanks Family Loran Scholar - 2019
McGill University
Charles P. Allen High School
Bedford
Nova Scotia

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Geneviève is treasurer of her student council and sat on a provincial youth council. She is a program volunteer with Special Olympics and started a lunchhour buddy program for students with special needs. Geneviève is a long-time soccer player. She was a skillbuilder at a provincial youth leadership conference and worked as a counsellor at a French-language summer camp. Close Bio

Gurnoor Minhas
BMO Capital Markets Loran Scholar - 2019
University of British Columbia
Brantford Collegiate Institute and Vocational School
Brantford
Ontario

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Gurnoor is the president of her school’s DECA chapter, an international business case competition. She was a driving force in establishing the first ever chapter in her school board. Gurnoor is an executive member on student council and volunteers as a mentor through Big Brothers Big Sisters. She works part-time as a sales associate and enjoys playing field hockey. Close Bio

Iulia Anescu
Dobson Loran Scholar - 2019
University of Ottawa
Collège Lionel-Groulx
Sainte-Thérèse
Québec

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Iulia founded and manages the Amnesty International group at her Cegep. She organizes conferences and activities for the defense of human rights. She is an instructor at ONU club and actively participates in simulations in Quebec and in the United States. Iulia works for an organization which helps children and teenagers in need to succeed. She is a tutor at her Cegep, as well as a lifeguard and swimming coach. Close Bio

Jaime Little
Gucciardi Loran Scholar - 2019
McGill University
Fredericton High School
Fredericton
New Brunswick

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Jaime is the co-editor of the FHS yearbook committee. She plans fundraising initiatives as a part of the school Safe Grad committee and plays in the school concert and jazz bands. Jaime volunteers with the school breakfast program and helps spread awareness about hunger. She works as a cashier at Walmart. Close Bio

Jasleen Bahia
BMO Capital Markets Loran Scholar - 2019
Western University
Britannia Secondary School
Vancouver
British Columbia

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Jasleen established a financial literacy program for disadvantaged youth, edits the Commonwealth newsletter, and serves on the constituency youth council. As environmental club president, she initiated Styrofoam collections. Jasleen pioneered a peer-to-peer mental health program and volunteers at the Boys & Girls Club. She is captain of the basketball team and the highest-ranking officer in VPD Cadets. Jasleen works as a scorekeeper. Close Bio

Kailyn Hanke
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2019
Dalhousie University
Neepawa Area Collegiate
Neepawa
Manitoba

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Kailyn is student council co-president and co-captain of her soccer team. She is also involved with her school division’s student advisory group, peer mentors, senior band, drama, and garden club. Kailyn enjoys volunteering her time leading her school’s social justice group, coaching volleyball, tutoring, and clerking at horticultural shows. Kailyn recently worked as a library program coordinator and museum attendant. Close Bio

Kim Lefort
Loran Scholar - 2019
McGill University
UWC Atlantic College
Wales, UK
-

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Kim is a founding member of the Feminist Club and leader of the Feminist Conference. She is an elected member of her school’s peace council, where she organized a march to raise awareness about the Rohingya Crisis. She taught theatre to children, volunteers at a senior home, and is a member of the board that organizes a volunteering/action week at her school. Close Bio

Laila Shaheen
Loran Scholar - 2019
University of British Columbia
Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific
Victoria
British Columbia

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Laila founded Theater of The Oppressed club and Youth Refugee Support Circles to fight racism and bullying in her school. She volunteered in women empowerment programs, mentoring and supporting refugee girls, and led fundraising to support women in need in her city. In her school, Laila is co-leading the school emergency response team and is part of the production crew. Close Bio

Laura Doyle Péan
Loran Scholar - 2019
McGill University
Cégep Limoilou
Québec
Québec

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Laura oversees communications and is the spokesperson for the local committee of EUMC Limoilou, which raised nearly $46,000 to sponsor student refugees and which organizes activities to raise awareness about forced migration. They are the director general of the student newspaper and are involved with numerous student committees. They are the secretary of the board of directors of TCMHNQ, which is responsible for the Black History Month in Québec. Laura is a librarian and a poet. Close Bio

Leon Picha
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2019
McGill University
Matthew McNair Secondary School
Richmond
British Columbia

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Leon holds various roles in his school, from being a vice-president of his student council to a stage manager of Theatre McNair's production of The Wizard of Oz. A participant of McNair's Mini School program, Leon upholds the program’s values of continuous social, physical, and academic development. He also spends his weekends working as a manager for McDonald's Canada. Close Bio

Marilyn Sheen
Rebanks Family Loran Scholar - 2019
University of Guelph
Kensington Intermediate Senior High
Kensington
Prince Edward Island

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Marilyn was a member of the first women's mountain biking team to represent PEI at the Canada Games. She completed three gold test levels in figure skating and is a volunteer CanSkate coach. She spent three months as an exchange student in Québec, and is a leader in promoting inclusiveness and school spirit at her school. Close Bio

Matthew Trefiak
Rebanks Family Loran Scholar - 2019
University of Saskatchewan
Wainwright High School
Wainwright
Alberta

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An Alberta 4-H Ambassador, school leadership member, and Summer Synergy participant, Matthew has benefited from both being a mentor and a mentee. He initiated a school program to foster inclusiveness and develop a sense of community. Matthew is also a National Young Cattleman. Close Bio

Meena Waseem
BMO Capital Markets Loran Scholar - 2019
Queen's University
Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute
Kitchener
Ontario

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Meena is student council president and an avid public speaker on mental health and diversity. Meena played percussion in band and chaired a club that eases students’ transition into high school. She organized her school’s first-ever mental health assembly and organized a successful hurricane relief fundraiser. Meena co-directed summer camps focusing on empowerment for children and youth. Close Bio

Mehera Salah
Tripp / Smith Loran Scholar - 2019
University of British Columbia
M.E. LaZerte High School
Edmonton
Alberta

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Mehera is co-chair of a club that aids youth with a drive to volunteer and is co-chair of Helping Hampers, an initiative providing families relief during the winters. She is a STEM ambassador in her city and now interns in a university lab. Mehera mentors kids through the Boys and Girls Club and founded her school’s environmental group, Climate Leaders. Close Bio

Mesgna Mesgna
Ralph M. Barford Loran Scholar - 2019
University of British Columbia
Churchill High School
Winnipeg
Manitoba

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Mesgna founded an after-school program that partners with his local Boys and Girls Club to encourage youth to delve into academics and athletics. He works as a head coach and is a 2018 SHAD fellow. Mesgna was selected for the opportunity to shadow Green Party Leader Elizabeth May. Close Bio

Paniz Moradi
Rebanks Family Loran Scholar - 2019
Mount Allison University
Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute
Toronto
Ontario

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Paniz is spearheading an initiative to bring a refugee family to Canada. While in exile in Turkey, she organized young people to take care of her community’s elders. She taught math and music to children from war zones. Since arriving in Canada, she has learned English, helped her family adapt, worked part-time, and completed volunteer work through her school. Close Bio

Ryan Brown
McCall MacBain Loran Scholar - 2019
McGill University
Owen Sound District Secondary School
Owen Sound
Ontario

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Ryan organized his small town's first pride parade and is the chair of the committee to run it again. He serves as the Ontario Student Trustees' Association's Public Board President and as a student trustee for the Bluewater District School Board. He is actively involved with his community theatre and loves to perform in musicals. Close Bio

Sam Sharp
Ralph M. Barford Loran Scholar - 2019
University of King's College
West Carleton Secondary School
Dunrobin
Ontario

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Sam is co-president of her school's student council. She has worked with initiatives supporting tornado relief in her community. Sam has also helped organize events such as Leadership Camp and Relay for Life. She studied for a semester in Barcelona, Spain. Sam has been a competitive dancer for many years and assists teaching Spanish to children. Close Bio

Shiqi Xu
Hasham Loran Scholar - 2019
University of Toronto
Sutherland Secondary School
North Vancouver
British Columbia

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Shiqi brought Meatless Mondays to her school and successfully advocated for a student choice policy on animal dissection. She was student council president in Grade 11. Shiqi plays clarinet and alto saxophone, and accompanies the school choir on piano. She has been an active volunteer at the city library for several years. She is a runner and a math tutor. Close Bio

Ta’Ziyah Jarrett
Scace Loran Scholar - 2019
McGill University
Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute
Toronto
Ontario

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Ta’Ziyah is the chair of the inaugural Equity Council at her school. She worked as a member of the Racialized Communities Strategy at Legal Aid Ontario and has volunteered with the Midtown Toronto Youth Council. Ta’Ziyah has been an active member of her student council since 11th grade and played an integral role in planning her school’s annual charity week. Close Bio

Taron Topham
Cronin Loran Scholar - 2019
University of Saskatchewan
Grandview School
Grandview
Manitoba

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Taron comes from a small Manitoba farming community. He serves as the local 4-H club’s treasurer and president of his student council. Taron is a member of the Dauphin Kings Junior A and Parkland Rangers hockey teams. While living with a billet family in Dauphin, he makes trips home to help on the family farm and volunteer with community activities. Close Bio

Tessa Hill
Young Fund Loran Scholar - 2019
University of King's College
Etobicoke School of the Arts
Toronto
Ontario

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Tessa is a writer, activist, and filmmaker. She founded and leads a youth forum in partnership with the 519 centre, which provides students with tools of activism. She runs a social justice club in that tackles issues within her school community. Tessa is a part of the Shameless Magazine Youth Advisory Board. Close Bio