Alex Poplar, a 17-year-old student, has received the Top Youth Volunteer honour in Nova Scotia for his initiatives and contributions to his community over the years. Poplar has been a dedicated volunteer from the young age of 7.
From an early age, Poplar was a dedicated volunteer who developed a passion for badminton while playing at the Joggins Community Centre. When he faced challenges accessing the facility year-round, he saw an opportunity to make a difference instead of dwelling on the lack of volunteers. Determined to turn the situation around, he took it upon himself to create more programs, ensuring the community could benefit from the centre’s resources.
The River Hebert-Joggins Community Centre, located in the former curling club, is a popular centre for recreation in the area. Alex stepped up and emerged as a leader within the club. He expressed his enjoyment of interacting with people— those he worked with and the visitors to the centre. His love for badminton prompted him to start volunteering there so he could make the facility more accessible to others in the community.
Starting his volunteering journey at just 7 years old, the teenager from River Hebert has already been recognized as the Municipality of Cumberland’s Youth Volunteer of the Year before being named the Provincial Youth Volunteer of the Year for his impactful contributions. Poplar’s passion for helping others extends far beyond opening the centre for sports. Every Friday night, he hosts a youth drop-in, offering a safe space for young people to connect and get involved in the community. With support from local donations, he also provides a hot meal for the group each week.
In addition to his many roles, Alex serves on the executive committee for the community centre and acts as secretary for the local development association, working on initiatives to promote growth in River Hebert. Murray Scott, the mayor of the Municipality of Cumberland, commended Alex for how young people can take initiative and effect positive change in their communities.
Alex has also contributed to the food pantry and breakfast program at the community centre, where he wrote grant proposals. One successful application secured a grant of $18,000 for purchasing food for locals in the community. He even volunteered at the community centre’s front desk during his free time to help out even more.
Poplar is in his final year of high school and plans to study science at university, with a goal of becoming a teacher to continue supporting youth every day. Despite being named the provincial volunteer of the year, he still feels a bit overwhelmed by the attention. He recalls being at the centre, packing boxes for a food drive when he received the unexpected news. “I was very surprised and very happy,” he said. “It wasn’t something I expected.”
At Polite Canada, we highlight exceptional people who work tirelessly to support, improve, and help their communities. Since the age of 7, Alex Poplar has focused on the betterment of the people around him and on helping improve his community.
Source: The Advocate
