City of Brantford and Brantford Youth Council concluded National Youth Week with an award ceremony at the Rope Factory Event Hall on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
The event celebrated future leaders from the City’s Youth Excellence Awards and Youth Leadership Development Program, which supports high school-aged leaders in planning community impact projects and providing input about the needs and experiences of local youth.
A total of 17 Brantford youth were honoured for their outstanding contributions to well-being, growth, diversity and inclusion, community, leadership and impact. Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis and Councillors Mandy Samwell and Gino Caputo were in attendance to support local youth serving organizations and present the 2025 Youth Excellence Award certificates. Award winners included:
- Acquiane Blake
- Alae Mebrouk
- Avery Stamer
- Brayden Barnett
- Frankie Costa
- Jaxon Kazakevicius
- Kaitlynn Sales
- Kassandra Lalonde
- Liam McDermott
- Madison Nantais
- Riley Corbett
- Riya Lalji
- Ruth Loker
- Selene Crick
- Serenity Anwhatin
- Spencer Ward
- Tommy Symons
“The Brantford Youth Excellence Awards is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of individuals under the age of 25 in our community,” said Kevin Davis, Mayor for the City of Brantford. “This year we awarded youth for their efforts in facilitating peer groups, volunteering, raising awareness for social causes, and for the incredible progress they have made in personal development. I am proud to recognize the hard work of our future leaders.”
Certificates were also presented to graduates of the City of Brantford’s 2025 Youth Leadership Development Program, which is a two-level, leader-in-training program that focuses on enhancing team building, effective communication, adapting leadership styles, and how to motivate and inspire people.
Attendees enjoyed visual art displays from local youth artists Iris Jeong, Ellie Jeong, Eli Nanticoke, and Yatawee Aniwattanakun and performances by local youth musicians Kaylynn Spencer, Aaron Sopko, and Hahsdotrewi Bomberry.
