At the City of St. Catharines Annual Volunteer Recognition Night, Kate Hou was awarded the “Margaret MacLennon Youth Volunteer of the Year” Award. Kate began volunteering in September 2014 as she entered Grade 9. Kate spends her volunteer hours along the trails of Walker’s Creek and also with the Friends of Malcomson Eco Park. She arrives early on Saturday mornings, when many of her friends choose to sleep in, ready to tackle any task requested. Kate has become a expert in the proper procedure of tree mulching and last Earth Day took a leadership role instructing youngsters and their parents in this technique. Weather is not a determining factor of volunteering for Kate. She is ready to volunteer in the cold rainy days of spring, the hot sunny days of June and late Fall when the snow decides to fly. Although Kate spends time wheelbarrowing mulch from tree to tree, sweeping and tidying the potting shed and greenhouses, her favourite time is planting native shrubs and wildflowers throughout the parks, finding the perfect spot for each one….in the forest, prairie grassland or the edge of the pond. Kate is a joy to work alongside, always smiling, no job too easy, too hard, to messy….always ready, always willing! Kate is 15 years of age and resides in Thorold with her parents. She is a grade 10 student at Sir Winston High School and enjoys participating in the Book Club. She is considering a career in Business and in a couple of years hopes to follow in her older brother and sister footsteps to university.