Bonnie McLaren Award

Celebrating Young Women Making a Difference

On Friday, May 9, community members gathered in West Vancouver to celebrate the Soroptimist of North & West Vancouver Dream Awards. The event recognized outstanding young women who are making a difference through volunteerism. Two major honours were presented during the evening: the Live Your Dream Award and the Bonnie McLaren Award.

Congratulations to the 2025 Bonnie McLaren Award Winners!

First place: Lily Yangliu
Mulgrave School Grade 11
(Special Project: Focus on Climate Action)

First Runner-up: Saliha Shajani
Brockton Secondary School Grade: 12
(Special Project: One Girl Can)

Second Runner-up: Keira Fitzgerald,
Argyle Secondary School Grade: 12
(Special Project: Children First Canada)

Pictured left to right: Lily Yangliu, Kiera Fitzgerald, Saliha Shajan

About the Award

The Bonnie McLaren Award honours young women aged 14 to 17 who have made remarkable contributions through volunteering. These inspiring individuals stand out for their meaningful achievements, often overcoming personal challenges with resilience and a positive attitude.

They take initiative, demonstrate leadership, and actively work to make a difference in their communities and beyond–identifying problems and taking steps to create real change.