It’s probably fair to say that 17-year-old Chris Gillies is a high-flying kind of teenager.
Not only did the McMath secondary student win the Silver Level Duke of Edinburgh Award, his dad, Bill, flew him over to the Victoria ceremony on a floatplane and flew them back via helicopter.
It may not come as a surprise to learn that Chris’ dad is a pilot to trade, a path the already accomplished teen is considering treading in the future.
Talking of his Duke of Edinburgh Award — presented to 28 youth from across B.C. who exhibit exceptional achievement and leadership — Chris said he had to complete numerous hours of community service and take part in “adventurous journeys” before being considered for the accolade.
“The adventure part came partly with the air cadets; it was a field training exercise, a survival weekend where myself and my partner were in the country (in Chilliwack) and had to build our own shelter, build our own campfire, create an SOS signal fire and had no food for 24 hours,” said Chris, who also took part in air rifle marksmanship exercises and competitions as part of his Air Cadets 828 Hurricane Squadron, based out of Tsawwassen, where he went for three years.
Looking ahead, Chris said he plans to go for the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award next spring by completing more community service hours and planning even more adventures.
After that, he plans to work part-time as a landscaper to save money to go travelling in Southeast Asia and potentially Europe.
“My mom is German; I’ve already been there and South East Asia is much cheaper, so it’s more likely I’ll go there,” said Chris, of Steveston, who also plays house hockey in the midget league for Richmond Minor.
“I’m maybe going to help build an orphanage in Vietnam; my dad’s friend trains air force pilots out there, so he’s involved with this.”
The Lieutenant Governor of B.C., the Honourable Judith Guichon, presented Chris and 27 other recipients with their awards two weeks ago.
“Youth who achieve the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award demonstrate a commitment to leadership and self-discovery,” said the award’s executive director of the BC & Yukon Division, Sushil Saini, in a press release.
“Participating youth don’t work towards a cash prize, but rather the intrinsic value of challenging themselves by setting goals and then achieving them.”
To earn the Silver Award, achievers must work actively in the four sections of the award program: service to community, development of a skill, physical recreation, and an adventurous journey in nature, working consistently over a minimum of one year.
