Cassidy Evans and Obiajulu Udemgba of Saskatoon, Levi Jaimieson from Moosomin, and Emmanuella McDougall of Regina are the recipients of the 2024 Junior Citizen of the Year Award.
The Award recognizes youths ages 8 to 18 for their ability to overcome challenges, live a positive lifestyle, interact with the community, show school spirit, and their display of care and responsibility.
Each award recipient receives a $3,000 bursary provided by SaskPower, presented to them by Lieutenant Governor Russ Mirasty today (thurs) at 2:00pm at Government House.
The award is sponsored by the Saskatchewan Weekly Newspaper Association in partnership with SaskPower and the Office of the Lieutenant Governor.
Cassidy Evans is 16 years old and resides in Saskatoon where she attends Marion Graham
High School.
Cassidy is in the French Immersion program and works hard to achieve excellent marks.
Outside of school Cassidy earned her bronze medallion for lifeguarding before she was old
enough to be a lifeguard! She loves children and has regular babysitting jobs.
At the age of four Cassidy was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. This life-threatening disease
causes damage to the respiratory and digestive systems. Despite many health challenges,
procedures and pain, Cassidy has maintained a positive disposition.
At just five years old, shortly after she received her life-changing diagnosis, Cassidy asked her
mother if she could have a lemonade stand to raise money for cystic fibrosis research.
During the pandemic, Cassidy found creative ways to continue fundraising that included
delivering homemade lemonade kits, running a drive-by lemonade stand, and selling
merchandise such as lemon necklaces, bracelets, earrings and key chains through an online
boutique.
Over the years, Cassidy’s Lemonade Stand has raised over $100,000 for cystic fibrosis
research and advocacy! In 2019 Cassidy’s lemonade stand won the $750 inaugural award for
young entrepreneurs from the Edwards School of Business.
Cassidy continues to advocate for people living with cystic fibrosis. She has met with politicians
and other decision-makers and has given numerous media interviews. Her advocacy and
fundraising efforts have contributed to a new drug, called Trikafta, becoming accessible to her
and others living with CF in Saskatchewan.
Cassidy also loves to sing and participates in the school choir. In April last year she spent a
week in Cuba with a local choir learning about their culture through performances, dances and
workshops. Cassidy also sang the national anthem at a Saskatoon Blades hockey game and
has sung at various CF fundraising functions including the SOAR Cystic Fibrosis fundraiser.
In February of 2023 Cassidy was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal in
recognition for her volunteer services.
Levi Jamieson is a 17-year-old student from Moosomin and has been in a 4-H Beef Club most
of his life.
He has held various positions within the 4-H Club and is currently the treasurer. Levi
participates with fundraisers and other events.
In 2020 Levi was injured in an ATV accident, leaving him without the use of his legs. Levi has
had to adapt to being in a wheelchair. He says he does not see his injuries as a disability but as
an ability to do things differently. Levi and his family have spent many hours figuring out new
ways to do things, but he never gets discouraged and meets his challenges head-on.
At the family farm, Levi’s duties include cutting, baling, and hauling the hay, snow removal and
barn cleaning. He also does custom baling and brandings for neighbours and helps with moving
equipment and cattle. Levi is not afraid of hard work and always shows up for anyone who
needs a helping hand.
Levi can often be seen driving his team of Clydesdale horses in parades. He also spends
countless hours supporting local events and often volunteers as a designated driver. Although
he may not be able to participate in some activities the same way he used to, he is always there
cheering on his teammates and friends.
Levi has donated a portion of the proceeds from his 4-H beef sales to several organizations,
including recently donating to Moosomin’s CT scanner fund and to STARS, which air-lifted him
from Moosomin to Saskatoon at the time of his accident.
Emmanuella McDougall is 14 years old and lives in Regina.
Ella, who was homeschooled until last year, now attends Regina Christian School where she
has joined the Student Leadership Council and has helped with school events, including the
school family barbecue, meet the teacher day and school pep rallies.
Ella was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at just 23 days old and has spent her entire life in and out
of hospitals. This fatal disease has created significant challenges for Ella.
She was also diagnosed with mild scoliosis and had to wear a back brace for a couple of years
to help straighten her spine.
Ella is passionate about raising funds and awareness regarding cystic fibrosis and increased
access to important medicines. Her advocacy has included speaking at fundraisers, with
politicians and to the media. Her efforts played a significant role in people with CF gaining
access and insurance coverage for the life-changing medicine called Trikafta.
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Ella continues to speak at fundraising events such as the annual Walk to Make Cystic Fibrosis
History, The Ride for the Breath of Life, Advocis Golf Tournament and the Make-A-Wish golf
tournament.
Ella’s hard work and advocacy have also resulted in her receiving acknowledgement from
Members of the Legislative Assembly. She has been included in Chris McLeod’s book, Beating
the Odds, and she received the Future Leader Award from Cystic Fibrosis Canada.
In 2022, Ella was presented the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal.
Obiajulu Udemgba is a 17-year-old student at Walter Murray Collegiate in Saskatoon. She is
also a youth advocate, environmentalist, humanitarian and volunteer.
Obii was a member of the 2023 Plan International Canada: Girls Belong Here leadership
program, the secretary of her school’s Environmental Club, and a volunteer instructor with the
International Women of Saskatoon’s annual Girls Summer Camp. At the camp she mentored
girls aged 7-12 who had recently arrived in Canada.
Obi has led city-wide fundraisers including the Kicks4kids initiative to collect and donate items
for underprivileged students.
She is a French Immersion student who volunteers as an English-French Translator and as a
French Content Creator for Canadian Parents for French. Obii also volunteers with CFCR
Community Radio.
At school, Obii volunteers as an English as an Additional Language tutor, member of the
Student Representative Council, and she recently founded the Aviation Club!
Obii has been selected to represent her school at the Crime Stoppers Annual “Speak Out”
Conference to discuss issues of class, home ownership, race and youth rehabilitation.
She is a Gold Medalist for the 2022 Young Reports for the Environment Essay Competition and
a bronze medalist for the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition.
In the summer of 2022 and 2023 Obi had work placements at RBM Architecture. There she
learned about architectural design, and this led to a position as the Youth Representative on the
City of Saskatoon’s Public Art Advisory Committee
