Two Okotoks youths were honoured by the Town of Okotoks at the April 24 Council meeting. 

It is part of an ongoing initiative by the Town Council to recognize and support youth that are doing amazing things within the community. The award, appropriately named “Awesome Kid” was handed to two young adults in the council chambers.   

Dave Grunleitner was recognized for his efforts to help create a community centred on artistry and wholesome activities. Including an all-ages open mic held at the Elks Hall.  

He started it as a way to fill in gaps he experienced as a musician.

"[I wanted] to give musicians such as myself a space that we can just go perform, have some fun, and get the community together. I look back upon what I didn't have when I first began as a musician, and that was a band.

"There's going to be more like me. So why not start an open mic where I can get people involved, people of all sorts of talents and arts and that includes poetry, dances, all of that."

Breanne Trotter was also recognized for her pivotal role in the Mount Royal Cougars' historic U Sports women's hockey national championship win.

They were considered an underdog heading to the Montreal tournament.

"We were seeded last place and we played Toronto in our first game, they were ranked first. We upset them … [then] we played Concordia in the final. They won the year before so they thought they were gonna win the game.

"I think we knew that we shouldn't have been ranked last. We were way better than everyone thought we were. So we had a point to prove.  Mount Royal is not really a known university, but we are now."