Photo: Awards for two promising Nunavut youth

Justice Beverly Browne (centre), who now serves on the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench, during a visit to Iqaluit this week handed out Upinnaqtuq awards Aug. 18 to two young Nunavut students: Stephanie Matthews (left) and Jason Gibbons (right.) The award, created in Browne’s honour by the Law Foundation of Nunavut, recognizes students from the three Nunavut regions who show leadership in conflict resolution or “remarkable progress in rehabilitation” and comes with a $500 cheque. Browne described Gibbons, 14, as a “pleasant, caring and hard-working young man” who is always willing to help out. Matthews, 18, who graduated from Inuksuk High School this year, served as a youth representative on Iqaluit’s restorative justice committee and will begin studies this fall at Dalhousie University in Halifax. Geela Manning of Kimmirut (not shown) also won an award, along with students from Hall Beach, Rankin Inlet and Taloyoak who cannot be named because the law foundation as yet to receive privacy clearances for them. (PHOTO BY JIM BELL)