Ali Damji became a part of JGI Canada in September 2008, when he co-founded the Roots & Shoots chapter at the University of Toronto Schools. Since then, he has found a real passion for social justice through initiatives such as the International Day of Peace, creating dramatic readings for his school’s Remembrance Day assemblies, and organizing speaker series on pertinent global issues. He strives to be involved in as many aspects of his school as possible and in his free time can be found doing anything from acting centre-stage in the school play, to debating world issues in the Model United Nations. He plans to pursue a career in the medical field. He feels very privileged to be among such a diverse and talented group of individuals in the Youth Council and can’t wait to get started!

Brooke Atkinson is in grade 12 at Carson Graham Secondary School in North Vancouver, B.C. She has been involved in environmental issues since elementary school, when she formed an environment club. Brooke has been active with Roots & Shoots for many years, and most recently flew peace doves at the Vancouver Art Gallery on Peace Day. She attended 2 United Nations International Childrens’ Conferences on the Environment, representing Canada. At the conference in Connecticut she had the great opportunity to meet Jane Goodall. Brooke has initiated lots of letter writing campaigns about protecting habitat and taking strong action on climate change. Her most recent campaign “Hope and Action for Copenhagen” encouraged hundreds of students to write letters to Prime Minister Harper about the need for Canada to be a leader on climate change at the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference. Brooke is looking forward to sharing ideas and make positive changes with other Roots & Shoots groups.

Camila Moya is in grade 12 at Immaculata High School in Ottawa, Ontario. She is co-president of her school's Eco Club, and part of various other clubs at her school. She is also the vice-president of her school`s Live It Up team, which promotes healthy living. Camila is also part of the swimming and water polo teams. Three years ago Camila came to Canada from the Dominican Republic where she has lived her whole life. Camila has always worked on campaigns to raise awareness on protecting the environment and being socially responsible, and she would like to combine her love for these issues to be an international advocate. She has attended many environmental conferences, and has promoted sustainability in her school. Through the Eco Club`s efforts last year, they were awarded the silver for Eco School's certification. Camila is super excited about being part of the YLC and to become an ambassador for Roots & Shoots.

Daniel Kwan has been a JGI volunteer since May 2009. He has since been balancing volunteer activities at Roots & Shoots events and his job at the Royal Ontario Museum. His interests include primatology and bioarchaeology. Currently in his third year of an HBsc degree in biological anthropology and archaeology at the University of Toronto Mississauga, Daniel hopes to attend graduate school for palaeoanthropology or mortuary archaeology.

Izzy Hirji is completing his 4th year in Zoology at the University of Guelph. He has been actively involved in campus organizations to do with the environment, social justice, animal welfare, politics and faith groups.  He was also the program coordinator of a student-run volunteer centre and is a strong proponent of activism in its many different facets and forms. He is extremely passionate about conservation, amongst other environmental issues, and is working towards becoming a veterinarian in the field of great ape conservation. In his spare time, he likes to read, does photography, is an avid cyclist and loves to be surrounded by nature (especially tropical jungles)!

Katie O’Connell will be serving her second term on the Roots & Shoots Youth Leadership Council this year.  She is a fourth year Environmental Studies major at York University.   Her main interests include conservation, water issues, urban forestry, and many social justice issues.  Katie had a lot of fun on the Youth Council last year! She believes that Project Blue was a huge success, because she got to meet and collaborate with so many brilliant young people.  The highlight of 2009 for Katie was her trip to Churchill, Manitoba in collaboration with Polar Bears International. That experience has definitely inspired her to continue with her studies and with her local involvement in groups like Roots & Shoots.  This year she hopes to help make Planet ReLeaf successful, and work towards making the YLC bigger and better.  She also hopes to rejuvenate her local Roots & Shoots group, and is looking forward to the year ahead.   

Kaylee McRae was introduced to Roots & Shoots by volunteering at McMaster University’s Reason for Hope week in 2006. Since 2007, Kaylee has been the co-founder and leader of an active group in Etobicoke West and was a member of the inaugural YLC from 2008-2009. Kaylee currently attends City School and wishes to pursue marine biology or zoology in post-secondary studies.  In the summer of 2009, Kaylee joined the Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organisation as a research assistant.  With great anticipation, she will head to Panama in the summer of 2010 to assist with PhD research focusing on how vessel traffic from the Panama Canal affects cetacean abundance and distribution.  Kaylee loves dancing, eating scrumptious vegetarian meals, scuba diving, and sharing her passion for the natural world with a compassionate ear.
  

Olivia Bonham-Carter lives in Campbellcroft, Ontario. She pretty is new to the Roots & Shoots program, but after getting to hear Dr. Jane Goodall speak, she knew she really wanted to help out, and since then has taken part in Peace Day 2009. Even though she is new to Roots & Shoots, she is part of a lot of community service initiatives at her school, including the Environmental and Social Justice groups, many stewardship programs and countless events, whether for fundraising or spreading awareness on animal, environmental and human-related problems. She is currently in Gr.11 at Trinity College School, and her favourite things to do include playing field hockey, reading, camping, skiing and biking.

Shailyn Drukis is excited to be continuing on the Youth Leadership Council for her second year. She is a kind-hearted individual who can be found engaging in her surrounding community through various volunteer activities and events. Shailyn has been honored to meet Dr. Jane Goodall on several occasions, including having had the opportunity to introduce her onto stage at the Youth For Action Workshop last year. She enjoys spending her time going on bicycle adventures, getting her hands dirty in her backyard vegetable garden, camping, reading, music, knitting, helping out at a local thrift store and drinking tea. Shailyn will be taking her passion for creating a more peaceful world around her by attending Wilfred Laurier University in September to study Global, and Environmental Studies.

Shawn Stickney became involved with Roots & Shoots through the 2009 Youth 4 Action Summit in Toronto. Shawn is passionate about protecting the environment and building community. He has been a member of Scouts Canada and enjoys working as a team to tackle problems. He also spent a summer working as an MNR Youth Ranger in and around Bon-Echo Provincial Park. Shawn also has volunteered for Food Not Bombs in Kitchener and at the Non-Violence Festival. Shawn is a regular writer for his school newspaper and a member of a three-man band. He enjoys reading, camping, playing guitar and writing. He is currently finishing up in Ecosystems Management at Fleming College in Lindsay, Ontario.   

Vivek Prabhu is a proud Atlantic Canadian who is new to Roots & Shoots. He is from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia and is currently attending Huron University College at the University of Western Ontario. Vivek is a huge believer in the hidden leadership potential that our generation has to offer - for the worries of today and challenges of tomorrow. He has recently acquired a Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award and was fortunate enough to represent Canada on the Junior Team Canada Economic/development mission to the America’s this past summer.

See the 2008-2009 Youth Leadership Council