2023 Agnes Macphail award nominations still open
Macphail, a significant figure in the history of East York, is regarded as a very accomplished woman in Canadian politics.
Macphail, a significant figure in the history of East York, is regarded as a very accomplished woman in Canadian politics.
13-year-old Maeve Pestonji, a Grade 8 student at St. Anselm Catholic School in East York, didn’t expect to win the Agnes Macphail Public Speaking contest.
As the 25th recipient of the Agnes Macphail Award, Carol Burtin Fripp is fully aware of the ceremony’s significance.
“As a child, I remembered seeing letters on the table at my house from various foster children that my parents sponsored,” said Patrick Rocca, the winner of East York’s 2016 Agnes Macphail Award for civic activism. “These kids, mostly from African countries, had nothing. That was one my first memories of how important it is to help those in need.”
Alam volunteers with Toronto Police Service in 53 Division to increase neighbourhood safety and with the Canadian Association of Pakistani Origin to assist with their community development initiatives, as well as to fundraise for natural disaster relief in Pakistan. Alam previously sat on the school councils for Thorncliffe Park Public School and Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute.
For Eden Bridge-Cook winning at public speaking was only a part of the objective. “I’m very passionate about animals,” she said, “so I was happy to share (my views) with everybody.” Eden, a Grade 6 student at Westwood Middle School, in East York, won the 2015 Agnes Macphail Award for her speech on factory farming at the 18th edition of the contest.