By Peter Moon
THUNDER BAY – The top Junior Canadian Ranger in the province for the year is Trevor McKay, 17, of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug.
“It is an award he greatly deserves,” said Captain John McNeil, the Canadian Army officer commanding the Junior Rangers in Ontario. “He’s active in his community and he works with the other Junior Rangers in his patrol. He’s a rock in difficult times.
“He shows up for every activity. He volunteers to go into other communities. He’s laid to rest some of his friends who have died from suicide in very sad circumstances.
“He’s so big but he’s gentle. And he really cares. When a kid goes to the side by themselves he’s there next to them asking them what’s wrong. He will do his best to mentor them back into the game.
“The Junior Rangers see him as shy but always working to do some good and they follow his lead. He really is the Junior Canadian Ranger of the year.”
The Junior Rangers is a national program run by the Canadian Army for boys and girls aged 12 to 18 in Canada’s remote and isolated communities in the North.
In addition to a plaque honouring him as the Junior Ranger of the year, McKay was awarded the Lord Strathcona Medal, the highest award that can be bestowed on a Junior Canadian Ranger for exemplary performance. He was also awarded the Order of St. George Medal, that organization’s highest award for exemplary contributions to the Junior Ranger training program.
He was also given the rare distinction of being an honorary aide de camp to the Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, Elizabeth Dowdeswell, during her visit to Camp Loon, an annual camp for Junior Rangers held in the bush north of Geraldton.
