At just 23 years of age, Kate Nixon has already proven herself as a committed social activist and community leader in the Guelph area.
In 2019, while still in high school, she founded Your Guelph Downtown Friends, a grassroots organization focused on alleviating the hardships of the local vulnerable community.
The volunteer-run group started with Nixon and a few friends making sandwiches at home and handing them out to people from a small wagon, but has since grown into a large organization with plenty of community support.
Your Guelph Downtown Friends now provides essential items such as winter clothing, sleeping bags, hot meals, groceries and other supplies.
Despite her long hours of work and dedication, Nixon was truly surprised to receive this year’s Young Leader award.
“I feel extremely honoured and shocked,” she said when told the news of her award win. “I’m very grateful for all of the support from the community and for our volunteers that allow me to do this work.”
“This means a great amount to me. My parents and grandparents have been really involved in the Guelph community so I’m proud to follow that pattern in our family,” she added.
She has dedicated her professional career to helping those in need as well. Nixon is a social service worker graduate who is currently an opioid poisoning response trainer with St. John’s Ambulance as well as a hotline supervisor and operator with the National Overdose Response Service.
She hopes to continue conversations with people in the community about what can be done to make sure no one is left behind.
The Young Leader award goes to an individual or group, under 25 years of age, as of April 2024, actively involved in worthwhile community service, in any one of the Community Builders categories. Recipients are young leaders who show a commitment in making their community better for others.
Congratulations, Kate!
This award is proudly sponsored by Dettmer Tire & Auto Centre.
