CBA 2016: Christopher McCormick wins Young Leader award

This kid is too good to be true. But Christopher McCormick is the real deal. He is polite, smart, articulate and dedicated to helping others.

Christopher volunteers with St. John Ambulance, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the Out of the Cold, and Vale concert series. He is social media director for the Sudbury Food Bank.

Every week he and his brother, William, 14, make sandwiches and muffins in their kitchen and deliver them to the Elgin Street Mission.

About a year ago, the McCormick brothers started an initiative called A Place to Call Their Home. They send school supplies – purchased with their own money and shipped at their expense – to students in developing countries.

The teen is co-chair of the Chief of Police’s Youth Advisory Council. As a member of the council, he helped to organize a mental health conference for youth.

This Young Leader is following the example of community service set by his parents, Kevin and Renee McCormick, with inspiration from his brother William.

“My mother and father were integral in exposing me at a young age…They stressed community involvement. It has become a lifestyle.”

Of course, teenagers don’t always do what their parents want but Christopher says he gets his kicks by meeting and helping people.

“I like doing it. I get pleasure out of being at the food bank. I get pleasure out of being at Big Brothers Big Sisters (and) seeing the great things they do.”

Chantal Gladu, executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters, says, “When I first met Christopher I was immediately inspired by this young man who is so giving and so professional at such as young age. When I thanked him for his assistance, he took my hand and said, ‘I am the one who is thankful to you for giving me this opportunity to help’.”

The Grade 12 student at Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School is enrolled in the International Baccalaureate program which offers an accelerated education in English, French, math, science and history. At school, he started a debating group, was publisher of the school newspaper, and looked after social media for the robotics club.

He is not worried about meeting the 40 hours of volunteer work required to graduate. He lost count long ago.

Keenly interested in social justice as well as social media, he aspires to be a judge. Next year he plans to study communications at Laurentian University.

A York University professor who met Christopher was so impressed he invited him to speak to undergraduate students about community engagement strategies.

“I truly believe his powerful model of social justice and community engagement would inspire our students,” says Livy Visano, professor of equity studies.

The teen donated his honorarium for speaking to the student food bank.

Did I mention Christopher is 17?