2025 Leadership Award Recipient | Honouring Advocacy, Empowerment, and Positive Leadership
Each year during BC’s Child and Youth in Care Week, Aunt Leah’s celebrates the strength, determination, resilience, and contributions of the young people we serve. Staff and peers nominate participants who inspire others and make an impact in their community. Our leadership team selects winners in five award categories, and we come together at a special event to honour them.
Meet Jordan, this year’s Leadership Award recipient.
Jordan began his connection with Aunt Leah’s 9 years ago when he joined the Support Link program. At that time, he was an aspiring chef in his school’s “Youth WORK in Trades” program. A multi-skilled individual, he often explored different passions like spoken word projects and sea chanties, especially in his Celtic music phase.
We are very proud that Jordan has found a way to combine his passions for food and cooking with his desire to share his culinary knowledge with others. Beginning with FoodSafe training, he is, with help from the Education team, planning to continue with Food Technology at BCIT.
Today, Jordan has found a powerful way to bring his love of cooking and food together with his desire to share his culinary knowledge with others. Beginning with FoodSafe training, and with support from Aunt Leah’s Education team, he is planning to continue into the Food Technology program at BCIT. His goal is to become a FoodSafe instructor, teaching others the skills and practices he’s mastered.
Even though he is working diligently towards his education, he finds time to help Fulton, our Food Security Specialist with food preparation on Wednesdays. His contributions include carrying in groceries, preparing ingredients, comparing recipes, advising on spices and ensuring everyone in the kitchen area is being both FoodSafe and WorkSafe.
Jordan has become an important part of the Aunt Leah’s community and is now making a point of giving back to it. He has mentored other participants in the kitchen, helping them with their knife skills, for example. He has even been spotted assembling office furniture!
We are very pleased that Jordan is growing and giving back to Aunt Leah’s. He has shown leadership, advocacy, and a commitment to empowering others. His ongoing connection to Aunt Leah’s demonstrates how strength and resilience can grow when young people are given the right support. He is a great example for other youth of someone finding their feet and journeying to their place in the world.
Jordan’s journey is a reminder that when youth are given support and opportunity, they can grow into confident leaders ready to give back.
About the Leadership Award
This annual award and bursary is presented in honour of Pam Costello, a long-time and deeply respected member of Aunt Leah’s team. Over her 21 years with the organization, Pam held roles from Family Support Worker to Director of Operations. Her leadership was defined by her ability to take initiative, empower others, and build safety and belonging for young people connected to Aunt Leah’s. In her memory, we honour a participant who embodies Pam’s values of positive leadership, advocacy, and commitment to others.
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