HISTORY OF THE AWARD IN BRITISH COLUMBIA & THE YUKON
In 1956 His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, launched, in the United Kingdom, the prestigious Award that we now know as The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Young Canadians Challenge. Within 10 years 16 countries were running their own Award programs, a figure which by 2001 had risen to 117. In 1963 the Award came to Canada and to British Columbia and the Yukon in 1969. The Award is operated throughout the world under a variety of names including "The International Award for Young People".
The Award is an International program open to all young people between he ages of 14 and 24. There are 3 levels of achievement ~ Bronze, Silver and Gold. At each level there are four areas of activity: Community Service, Expeditions, Skills and Fitness. The "Award" itself consists of a lapel pin and an inscribed certificate of Achievement. More than 23,000 young Canadians are now participating in the Award program either through Schools, or as members of organized youth groups, such as Guiding, Scouting, Cadets, Church Groups, and also on an individual basis. In the British Columbia and Yukon Division 5,693 young people are registered with the Award program. |
