2025 Rona Award Recipient | Recognizing Kindness, Compassion and Pride
As part of our annual recognition during BC Child and Youth in Care Week, Aunt Leah’s presents five awards to outstanding young people in our programs. These awards celebrate the strength, determination, resilience and virtues of the young people we serve.
Dylan, is the recipient of this year’s Rona Award.
Dylan has been part of Aunt Leah’s for just over two years. He resides in one of our Lale program houses and is also connected with a number of our services, such as Education and Employment, Fresh Air Fridays, the Youth Advisory Committee, and our weekly grocery program. Lale House provides a supportive home where he can focus on his goals and hobbies.
Dylan came to Aunt Leah’s seeking stability after aging out of care and in doing so, became a source of strength and warmth for others in the program.
Despite growing up in foster care system and navigating mental health challenges, Dylan consistently demonstrates a warm and positive attitude, approaching life with openness and ambition, turning adversity into passion and never settling for less — qualities that deeply reflect the spirit of the Rona Award.
Dylan is known by peers, housemates, staff and the larger community for his kind and outgoing nature. He makes a point of engaging meaningfully with anyone he meets, whether reaching out to a stranger with a greeting or sharing detailed knowledge with staff on various subjects of interest. His positive attitude is immediately evident, definitely contagious and brings the same out in others.
Dylan creatively channels difficulties into strengths – starting his own streetwear line with upcycled clothing and his own hand-embroidered designs and often expressing thoughtful commentary on complex socio-political issues. Dylan enjoys painting, outdoor sports, thrifting, fashion, collecting and enjoying many vintage books, comics, music, and films, which reflect his deep
appreciation for art, culture and history.
He has advocated for others in care by contributing to the Youth Advisory Committee, offering his voice and perspective to help others receive the care and attention they need. He has given media interviews to share his story and spread awareness of Aunt Leah’s services. In addition, Dylan actively seeks out ways to give back to the broader community. He has been volunteering with
the Adopt-a-Street Program in New Westminster, showing pride in his community to help keep it clean, and always makes sure to leave a stack of books in the local sidewalk libraries when he finds them empty. Dylan has recently applied to a Big Brothers mentorship program and is preparing to mentor younger youth in care. All of this is a reflection of the esteem and pride he places in his own actions and in the value of his various communities.
Dylan embodies the values of kindness, compassion, pride and quiet strength that defined Rona’s legacy and is the deserving recipient of this year’s award.
About the Rona Award – Kindness, Compassion, Strength, and Pride
This award is presented in honour of Rona Castagnier, a long-time co-worker, and friend of Aunt Leah’s. Rona was a very strong, kind, compassionate, and proud person. Rona would not hesitate to give someone her last dollar if they were in need, even if it meant that she would go without. In honor of Rona, Aunt Leah’s gives an annual award and bursary to a student from one of Aunt Leah’s Training Programs who has shown the characteristics that Rona appreciated the most.
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