The Lunenburg County RCMP Youth Advisory Committee was one of many groups from across the province at Government House yesterday, Feb. 26, to receive the Lieutenant Governor’s Respectful Citizenship Award.

The award recognizes students who demonstrate leadership and commitment to creating safe and inclusive spaces, where bullying behaviour is not accepted, and respectful and responsible relationships are promoted.

‘I am so pleased to see the hard work and efforts of the Lunenburg County RCMP Youth Advisory Committee be celebrated in such a prestigious way,’ said Committee co-founder, Cst. Brandy Steeves. ‘Receiving this award sends a strong message to our youth – what they are doing is truly making a difference.’

Of the 126 students nominated for the award, 68, both individual and as teams, were selected for 16 awards, two for each school board in the province. They were chosen by an advisory committee of representatives from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Nova Scotia Teachers Union, Nova Scotia School Board Association, Nova Scotia Federation of Home and School Associations and La Fédération des parents acadiens de la Nouvelle-Écosse.

‘We are very excited that our team got selected for this award and are so happy that our work is recognized in this way,’ said Blade Turner, a member of the Lunenburg County RCMP Youth Advisory Committee.

The Lunenburg County RCMP Youth Advisory Committee has been around since 2011, when local RCMP members began actively recruiting youth from all junior and senior high schools in Lunenburg County. The Committee was created to raise awareness about local youth issues, develop leadership skills related to public speaking and the media, and to become a sustainable committee.

From 2011 to 2013, the Committee focused on bullying. This year’s focus is about increasing awareness about bullying, drugs and sexual harassment/assault. To raise awareness, the Committee has conducted a number of school presentations and created videos to help its members better understand the issues in unique and memorable ways. Check out some of these videos on their Youtube channel http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk3AoyGHi6H2yLyQIsQTuCA .

For more information on the award, visit http://antibullying.novascotia.ca/ns-lieutenant-governors-respectful-citizenship-award .

Source: Release