Troop 17 Scholarship

Winning the RCMP Troop 17 Scholarship is an incredible honour and reinforces my belief that kindness, courage, and standing up for others truly make a difference. Throughout my community, I have worked to prevent bullying and harassment by advocating for those who need a voice, fostering inclusion and respect, and leading by example in both my volunteer work and my nursing education.

Receiving the Troop 17 Scholarship is a tremendous honor and a great source of motivation. This recognition confirms that culture, music and community engagement can be powerful tools in preventing bullying and harassment. As a member of the Maracatu Montréal group, I have helped create an inclusive space where 25 people of all ages, from different cultures and with diverse backgrounds come together in a spirit of respect, mutual support and collaboration. I have also been involved in intercultural projects, solidarity initiatives and community activities that foster a sense of belonging and inclusion. This scholarship encourages me to continue this commitment, particularly with youth and more vulnerable communities, so that everyone can feel welcomed, valued, and fully accepted. By supporting initiatives like ours, the RCMP helps promote projects that turn diversity into a strength and demonstrate that inclusion is one of the most effective ways to prevent bullying and harassment. This scholarship will allow me to continue this mission, to keep welcoming people from all walks of life, and to work with my community to build a society that is even more inclusive, caring and supportive.

My project was born from a saxophone, an elderly neighbour and a smile. Behind that smile I saw something else: a form of bullying that hides in impatience, in condescending looks, in the habit of speaking on someone's behalf. I founded Harmonie Intergénérationnelle to answer it and it has since brought more than 500 young volunteers and seniors together through concerts, music workshops, and long conversations in residences. I've watched residents who were silent at first begin to sing and volunteers from my CEGEP stay long after the music ended just to listen. What I've learned is that bullying prevention is about building spaces where contempt can't take root. Dignity does not diminish with age and winning the Troop 17 Scholarship encourages me to keep saying so.

Receiving the Troop 17 Scholarship is a tremendous honour. The dedication of the women of Troop 17 to breaking barriers and standing up against harassment inspires me to continue my work in providing youth with mental health education, since so much of bullying and harassment takes root where mental health isn't understood or addressed. I believe education is one of the most powerful tools we have to build safer communities, and by using this tool, I hope to carry their legacy forward through my work.

Receiving the RCMP Troop 17 Scholarship is incredibly meaningful to me because it recognizes something I strongly believe in: creating communities where everyone feels respected, included, and supported. Through mentoring and tutoring younger students, leading community and youth initiatives, and creating spaces where young people can speak openly about well-being and inclusion, I have worked to prevent bullying and harassment by addressing the isolation and exclusion that can allow them to grow. I have learned that preventing bullying is not only about responding when something goes wrong; it is also about building a culture of kindness, belonging, and respect every day. This scholarship encourages me to continue that work and to keep finding ways to make a positive difference in my community.