Weyburn's Megan Ebel Named Junior Citizen of the Year

The Junior Citizen of the Year award has honored the youth of Saskatchewan for over 40 years. The program is sponsored by The Saskatchewan Weekly Newspapers Association, in partnership with SaskPower, and the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan.

These prestigious awards are given to kids who have had the ability to overcome life’s challenges, have a positive lifestyle, are dedicated to community and school, have a strong sense of caring and responsibility, inspire others, and are between the ages of 8 to 18.

Four award recipients are chosen each year to receive a $3,000 bursary provided by SaskPower and this year's winners were just announced with Weyburn's Megan Ebel being one of the honorees.

"I was super surprised when I got the call saying that I was one of the winners this year and it was just an honor to be given such a prestigious award," Ebel said. "About a week ago I received a call from a lady that worked at the Saskatchewan Weekly Newspapers Association and I honestly wasn't expecting the call at all. It was the middle of the day and it was super exciting news. I was super happy that I was one of the chosen winners because so many people faced tough adversities in their life and for me to be chosen as one of them was really great."

Ebel has served as the Weyburn City Council Youth Mayor, as well as co-chair of her school's SRC, and was also co-president of a high school Junior Achievement company that was very successful and ended up donating their proceeds to the Canadian Mental Health Association as well as a local family that needed help.

She also organized a COVID-friendly high school graduation “reverse parade” for her graduating class at the Weyburn Comprehensive School in 2020.

During all of Ebel's hard work (that included graduating from Grade 12 with a 90 percent average) she was dealing with the loss of her father Wayne Ebel who passed away in August of 2019 after losing his battle with cancer.

"Sometimes I felt like it was almost so much that I couldn't handle it but I just had to take a step back and look at everything individually to realize that it's going to be okay and that we're gonna get through it, and it'll all be good in the end," shared Ebel. "My family had to learn a new kind of normal and it first it was really difficult. Especially our farm dog. Trying to move him and relocate him was really difficult but I'm glad that he's close to home with some great friends."

Ebel has been known around the community as a selfless and helpful person that always puts others before herself. After her father passed away her mother's cancer ended up needing to be treated and she is now finally through her final stages of that luckily. As well her brother dislocated his shoulder and needed her assistance while she herself was recovering from a hip surgery after being involved in a serious car accident while still in high school.

"When we found out my dad had cancer I started to help out at home and luckily I got my license right around that time so I was able to help to get groceries, doing laundry, and whatever else was needed."

All four of the Junior Citizen of the Year winners will be receiving a package in the mail that Ebel believes will have a medal as well as a box of goodies.

Following her graduation, Ebel attended the University of British Columbia remotely from Weyburn and just completed her first year of a Bachelor of Science program with plans to go into Environment Science.

"I took an Environment Science class in Grade 11 and the way that it was so hands-on drew me to really like it. We went down to the river and grew different plants so just the process was so interesting to me," Ebel explained. "And I always wanted to move to Vancouver so I applied there and when I got in I was pretty surprised. So I was super excited when I got in there and hopefully next year I can take my classes in person."

Ebel wanted to share with other youth that may be struggling that "when you feel like you are weighed down by heavy rocks you just need to take them off one at a time and then eventually things will become better."

You can visit the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan's website on Wednesday, June 23 at 1:30 p.m. to watch the virtual 2021 Junior Citizen of the Year award ceremony. For those unable to join at that time, the video link will remain available on the website.