The Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) are pleased to announce the six recipients of the 2026 Healthy Democracy Student Leadership Award! This scholarship is being awarded to one graduating English public school student in each of OPSBA’s regions.

AMO’s Healthy Democracy Project promotes the value and reach of Ontario’s municipal governments, while focusing on the importance of diversity of leadership and respectful civic dialogue.

Scholarship recipients are students with leadership skills and potential, who care deeply about their communities and furthering their own learning. Six scholarships of $1,000 each have been awarded to:

Central East
Zaara Mehmood, Pickering High School, Durham DSB

Central West
Krishna Aarya Trivedi, Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute, Waterloo Region DSB

East
Gabriel Bergeron, Bayridge Secondary School, Limestone DSB

North East
Riley Trudeau, Northern Secondary School, Near North DSB

North West
Alexis Latter, Fort Frances High School, Rainy River DSB

West
Maryjane Klunder, Owen Sound District Secondary School, Bluewater DSB

We congratulate the recipients on their outstanding accomplishments and dedication to their education and communities, which have made them ideal candidates. We wish each student all the best in their future endeavours and look forward to seeing the great things they will accomplish within their communities and beyond!