2016 Local Hero – Youth Volunteer

 

Ethan Ashley-Cheetham started volunteering at The Views when he finished Grade 8 at Isfeld Secondary. Three years and 150 volunteer hours later, he continues to spend an hour-and-a-half each week at the seniors’ care facility at St. Joseph’s Hospital.

“I’d like to go into health care when I’m older, so I was seeing if the hospital was the right environment for me,” said Ethan, the top youth volunteer recipient at the Local Hero Awards. “I really liked it there. I keep going back because all the residents, they know my name now. I can relate and connect with all of them. It feels like something’s missing if I miss a week.”

The 17-year-old had tried volunteering at his mother’s preschool, which he liked, but didn’t turn out to be his age group of choice.

“They (seniors) have funny stories, it’s really good. It’s like having 60 grandparents that I see every Wednesday.”

Ethan has two sets of grandparents in England. He recently attended a ceremony where one of his grandfather’s received a service award for raising money for injured soldiers.

Besides The Views, Ethan volunteers nine hours a week with the Sharks swim club, coaching beginners (5-10 years) and advanced swimmers (12-14 years).

Before he turned to coaching, Ethan had competed at the BC Summer Games. But when volunteering at the preschool, a Sharks coach suggested he give coaching a try.

“That’s kind of taken my focus. Coaching at the younger age group and the older age group — it’s a good way to watch the kids come up. I’ve had kids that I taught, and now they’ve moved into the competitive side, and I’m watching them win and put all those skills to use.”

Ethan hopes to graduate high school in January, and take college courses before attending university.

Age: 17

School: Grade 11 at Mark Isfeld Secondary

Lives in: Merville