To celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday – The Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) is empowering young Canadians to make a difference in their communities.
The RBC ‘Make 150 Count’ is a program where every RBC branch in Canada selects one young person to receive $150 to help build communities. This year, the Sylvan Lake Royal Bank branch and their branch manager Marianne Lamb selected 25-year-old Deshon Lennard, Youth Services Coordinator for the Town of Sylvan Lake, to receive the award.
“While I was attending We Day and watching the Vice President [of RBC Alberta/NWT] speaking, internally I had hoped that I would be given the opportunity,” Lennard said. “Fate had it that I ran into Marianne. When she started speaking about it; I was onboard before she finished because I knew what was going on.”
Lennard was working with youth at Sobey’s on Monday, November 14 when he ran into Marianne.
“I had never met him before but I saw him and was drawn to him,” Lamb said. “I walked over and asked where he was from and what he did and then I said I am looking for someone within Sylvan Lake that can make a difference in our community.”
The $150 award has no strings attached to it, however Lennard is already building a plan to help others in the community with it.
“I don’t know who I want to give it to but my plan is to try to grow it,” Lennard said. “Because of my job with the town, I know a lot of people and have access to businesses - so I want to try to have people match the $150 to grow it into a larger pot.”
The movement is attached to a hash tag #make150count, where people can read and learn about other people who are trying to make a difference in their communities with the money.
“It is a national movement and we are very excited to have chosen Deshon,” Lamb said
Lennard added “I’m really grateful. Stay tuned as I will keep everyone posted on my progress.”
reporter@sylvanlakenews.com