What was the initiative? 

Madeline’s initiative was a social justice education program implemented at her former high school, École Secondarie Sainte Marguerite D’Youville (ESSMY) in St. Albert, Alberta. Through the Fellowship, she designed and led workshops on community development and asset-based approaches to social justice. She mentored students in organizing events to fundraise and raise awareness for local and global issues of importance to them. Over the course of nine months, she worked closely with a core group of students, helping them develop leadership skills and take action on social issues.  

What was the community connection? 

Madeline grew up in Alberta and held a passion for taking action to address injustices she saw in her community from a young age, actively working to raise awareness, organize fundraisers, and mobilize peers to address social issues. While her early efforts were driven by passion, she came to recognize their limitations in sustainability and meaningful community participation. Building on this realization, she developed her initiative idea to help equip Alberta youth with tools and knowledge to engage in more effective and ethical community initiatives.  

How was it innovative? 

Madeline’s initiative was innovative because, unlike traditional social justice education programs that rely heavily on classroom instruction, she integrated experiential learning through mentorship and hands-on projects. She also prioritized student-led initiatives, gradually shifting from suggesting ideas herself to fostering independent project planning. By involving students in real-world activism and policy discussions – including a school-wide participatory vote on environmental actions – her initiative empowered youth with practical skills in leadership, advocacy and critical thinking, ensuring long-term community impact. 

What is Madeline doing now?  

Madeleine has works as a Community Mobilization Project Manager and Health Prevention and Promotion Agent for the Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social. In this role, she is responsible for supporting the development and implementation of community programs and initiatives rooted in the results of the 2017 Inuit Nunavik Health Survey-Qanuilirpitaa? (How are we now?).