Local change maker Sophia Vaillant was presented with the King Charles III Coronation Medal by local Courtenay-Comox MLA Ronna-Rae Leonard on the weekend. 鈥��������������
鈥淓very one of us is born with our own gifts to give the world. This is an opportunity to not only recognize Sophia鈥檚 accomplishments with this medal, but it is a moment to reflect on the fact that each of us can contribute in our own way to a stronger Canada, a stronger future,鈥� said Ronna-Rae Leonard.
The Coronation Medal, a Canadian honour created to mark the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III, was launched by Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, and recognizes people who have made significant contributions to Canada and their home province and communities.
Vaillant, who is currently a second-year University of Victoria student, created a 3D printed hospital training tool called the CRIC while she was still in high school. The CRIC saved the Comox Valley hospital $12,000. She has also constructed the Zenius Lab, a collaborative of STEM student inventors, dominated by girls and gender diverse students in an effort to remedy the traditional male-dominated robotics environments she鈥檇 experienced. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she sewed hundreds of masks to fit people of all ages.
More recently, while home for the summer Vaillant has begun planning another community project to support the Lake Trail Community Education Society (LTCES).
鈥淢y hope with this is to unlock more possibilities for LTCES so that they can bring community support and leadership programming to as many students as possible,鈥� said Vaillant.
In the ceremony at the Comox Marina Park, MLA Leonard presented Vaillant with the medal while surrounded by her family, friends and Physics and Math teacher/mentor from Highland Senior Secondary School. Vaillant recognized everyone鈥檚 support as key to achieving success with her projects, with Vaillant and her family emphasizing 鈥渋t takes a village鈥� to help young people like her reach their potential.
The medal is awarded to 30,000 deserving individuals across the country and is the first Canadian honour to mark a coronation.
