MNO citizen Mitch Case honoured with the Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers Award
Submitted by: Guylaine Morin-Cléroux, MNO Education and Training Branch Operations Coordinator
Mitch Case with his Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers Award in Toronto.
Provisional Council of the Métis Nation of Ontario (PCMNO) Youth Representative Mitch Case was honoured by the Government of Ontario with the Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers Award on May 14.
Established in 1998, the Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers honours youth between the ages of 15 and 24 who have given a large amount of time to a charity, a not-for-profit organization or a person; and who have inspired other young people to volunteer. The medals are presented by the Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.
A group photo of Mitch Case with family, friends and some nominators. (Left to
right) Jessica MacLean, Sabrina Spencer, Benny Michaud, Senator Reta
Gordon, Senator Joseph Poitras, Mitch Case and his mother Shari Smale.
An extremely worthy candidate, Case was nominated for this award by Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) Education and Training staff as well as Provisional Council of the MNO (PCMNO) Senators Reta Gordon, Rene Gravelle, Verna Brunelle and Joseph Poitras.
“I am so honoured and humbled by this experience. I do a lot of work for the Métis Nation and for our government the MNO. I do this work because it needs to get done. It is such an honour to be recognized for this work, even while it is not why I do it,” wrote Case in a thank you letter.
As a citizen of the MNO, Case has volunteered with the organization for 10 years. He began volunteering with the MNO Sault Ste. Marie Métis Council at the age of 14 and two years later, took on the role of youth representative, working as a liaison between his community and local school boards.
Mitch Case and the Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of
Ontario.
Case’s leadership skills and dedication to his community were recognized by the MNO early in his career as a youth leader. He served on the MNO Youth Council and is currently the Youth Representative on the PCMNO. In all of these roles, Mitch has worked tirelessly to guide and mentor other Métis youth, encouraging them to better understand, promote and participate in their Métis culture. He believes that education of Aboriginal peoples includes education about Aboriginal peoples.
“Although Mitchell may be young, he is wise beyond his years and it is not uncommon for others to come to him for guidance or support. He is an asset to the Infinite Reach Network, the Métis community and all of the other many areas he applies himself to,” said one of Case’s nominators.
Now as a student at Algoma University, Case volunteers with the Aboriginal Student Association. He dedicates his time to supporting Aboriginal students in order to ensure a bright and successful future for themselves and their community.
Case was also recently appointed to the Premier’s Council for Youth Opportunities where he serves as an advisor to the Ontario Government on youth-related issues.
”Mr. Case has demonstrated and promoted Métis cultural values diligently over the past ten years and has done so with heart. At community gatherings he ensures that elders are taken care of appropriately, that youth are meaningfully engaged in political conversations, and that spiritual practices and customs are maintained and respected,” wrote one of Case’s nominators.
It is no doubt that Case is a worthy candidate for this award. Case is a visionary who leads Ontario’s Métis and Aboriginal youth by his council and by his example.
“…I want to dedicate this award to our ancestors who lead the way for our people and to the youth of the Métis Nation who are my inspiration for doing this work. I look ahead to the young people I work with and the small children who are coming forward and I know our future is bright. This award goes out to all of you,” wrote Case.
Congratulations on this great achievement. The MNO is very proud of all you have accomplished.