Olivia is an enthusiastic participant in her school environment club, and she helped to host a community-wide conference dedicated to preserving Lake Winnipeg. She excels in jazz, orchestra, and cross-country running. Olivia maintains high averages while working part-time. Within her school community, she spearheaded a project to increase awareness for missing and murdered Indigenous women. She is also in the process of writing a children’s book about anxiety management.
Eddy created the inaugural Asian Heritage Celebration in her school and community, as well as a pilot program to teach students the basics of project management and to create a long-lasting culture of change. Eddy volunteers with the Youth Parliament of Manitoba to help young people learn about governance and politics. She also serves on two student advisory councils to provide insight on rural education and how to best shape Manitoba schools for the future.
Studying oceanography and political science at the University of British Columbia, Baljot is passionate about advocating for the rights of marginalized populations. He serves as an executive for the UBC Sikh Students Association and conducts independent research on the effects of heat waves on marine algal blooms. Baljot co-leads a youth initiative dedicated to promoting access to literary and cultural resources for incarcerated youth. He spent his Loran not-for-profit summer working at Yukon University’s Whitehorse Correctional Centre campus, supporting inmates’ educational journeys, on their road to rehabilitation and self-healing. He enjoys hiking, traveling, and good conversation in his free time.
Ridhwanlai is pursuing a B.Sc. that integrates computer science and neuroscience. He founded Wake Up Mental Health to destigmatize mental illness through youth-driven storytelling. He also spent one of his Loran summers researching at MIT’s Media Lab, exploring equitable approaches to computer science education. Currently, Ridhwanlai serves as a director with the Paragon Policy Fellowship, connecting students with government partners to co-develop technology policy briefs. Whether tutoring kids in coding, organizing hackathons, or experimenting with poetry at an open mic, Ridhwanlai strives to live each day with intention and curiosity.
Cadena is a law and society student at the University of Calgary, originally from Keeseekoowenin First Nation in Treaty Two Territory. She currently serves as president of the Indigenous Students’ Circle (ISC), where she led the first-ever ISC x UCalgary Dinos collaboration to uplift Indigenous youth through sport and academic connection. Staying closely connected to home, Cadena regularly returns to run youth sports programs. She has partnered with the Rotary Club of Winnipeg and the Manitoba Aboriginal Sports and Recreation Council to host a sports camp and provide new equipment for Keeseekoowenin youth. She also supports the UCalgary Powwow Committee as communications lead and sits on the boards of Grass Grows, Rivers Flow and Miskanawah, continuing her advocacy for Indigenous youth and community leadership.
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