The special Leaders of Tomorrow celebration is coming up in April and nominations are currently being accepted. 

Renita Bartlett, Community Liaison and Programmer for the Voluntary Sector says they are looking for students anywhere from elementary grade level all the way up to high school that go above and beyond. "We are really looking to celebrate those youth that are volunteering, showing leadership, and contributing to the overall community."

In past years, the number of recognized youth has varied anywhere between twenty and twenty-five individuals, and this year Bartlett is anticipating to see those numbers rise. "It is really wide open and something we are really celebrating this year. It could be a youth in the community that is having a lemonade stand and donating the money to the Humane Society, we are really looking for all nominations. There is no such thing as too small of a contribution when it comes to celebrating the youth in the community that are doing these things."

Nominations will remain open until March 22nd, with the evening celebration occurring on April 11th at the Cochrane RancheHouse. Bartlett shares this year the event will see a few changes to its usual program due to a new partnership struck between Family Community Support Services,  Cochrane Youth Council, and the Boys and Girls Club of Cochrane and Area. "This year we are going to focus on creating an event for youth, by youth. So typically what would have been adults in the community handing out awards and seeing the event through will actually be done by the youth in the community. We have been working really closely with these great youth and they really want to be engaged in the Cochrane community, so when we presented this concept to them they were really excited about taking ownership of it."

Bartlett reiterates there are no winners in the Leaders of Tomorrow, but a way to celebrate all the amazing young people in our town. "Reading the stories of what these youth are doing in the community is amazing to see and makes me smile every day. This is not an individualized or a 'won' award, it will be given to those youth nominated."

If you would like to nominate a young person in the Cochrane community for their efforts to make our community the best it can be, you can do so HERE

The nominated leaders will be treated to a pizza dinner and a candy dessert bar as well as the opportunity to hear from Paralympian Michelle Salt who is this year's keynote speaker.