OPINION....Top-notch kids

What do Laura Crawford, Heather MacKinnon and Noah MacDonald have in common? They are all outstanding, community-minded citizens who were recently nominated for 2006 Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Awards. Residents can be proud of these three youngsters for achieving a level of community activism far beyond that of most citizens of this great community. Their efforts greatly exceed the basic expectation we have for our young people-- ranging from fundraising for different cancer and muscular dystrophy charities to being recognized as leaders by their families and peers. Based on the qualities all three possess as youths they appear destined to become our community's future leaders. For their outstanding efforts, the three nominees were recognized by the Ontario Community Newspapers Association (OCNA)-- a recognition proudly supported by this newspaper. Each year OCNA asks its member papers-- including The Independent & Free Press-- to put the call out to readers for information about community-minded young people. Up to 12 individual award winners and one group from across Ontario are selected to be part of the OCNA Junior Citizen calendar. While the local nominees were not selected for that honour this year, these junior citizens stand as examples for future generations of young people to follow. Each of Halton Hills' three nominees have already won. By dedicating themselves to making their community better, they provide living proof that individual efforts can have a ripple effect by enriching many lives here at home and abroad. The Independent & Free Press salutes the unselfish efforts of these young people. They exemplify all the positive traits any parent would hope their own children would possess. In addition to providing role models for other young people, these exceptional junior citizens act as a reminder to adults of how powerful an impact giving back to the community can have.