Each panel member represents a different perspective. The panellists are:

• A parent
• A principal
• A student
• A support staff member
• A teacher

The chair helps the panel reach consensus and ensures that all members are involved in the selection process.

Together, this diverse group maintains the integrity of the selection process, evaluates all nominations and recommends who may receive the awards.

Meet the Chair

Akela Peoples, M.Ed.
Co-Founder, President and CEO, Youth in Motion

Akela Peoples is an entrepreneur, visionary leader, trainer, author, and motivational speaker. In 1997, she founded Youth in Motion (www.youth-in-motion.ca), a highly successful organization that has presented more than 100 motivational career conferences and a wide variety of other programs across Canada in the past 10 years. This successful organization's highly sought-after career and personal development programs include motivational career conferences, mentoring programs and a national awards and mentoring program called Top 20 Under 20™.

Peoples holds two undergrad degrees and a master's degree in educational administration and she is featured on U of T - OISE's website as one of their inspiring alumnae. In 2005, she was named one of the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada by the Women's Executive Network. She was the youngest ever recipient of the YWCA's Women of Distinction Award in 2002 for Entrepreneurship. Akela has also received many awards for her leadership in education including the Toronto Sun’s Women on the Move Award.

Prior to founding Youth in Motion, Peoples was recruited out of university to work in Ontario's publicly funded school system where she held a leadership role in the creation and implementation of two internationally renowned educational programs - a high-tech international business program and a regional performing arts school both located in southern Ontario. She also was recruited to a national role for a major Canadian educational training institute and has authored three books on mentoring.

Peoples is a dynamic, passionate and inspirational speaker and has presented to business and education leaders, parents and youth nationally and internationally. She has been featured regularly on television, radio, live web casts and in newspapers across Canada. She believes that youth are the future of our country and strives to inspire all youth to discover and reach their full potential while seeking out a career that they love in order to lead a happy, successful and fulfilling life.