Friendship Centre Youth Champion: Renee Wilson

Renee Wilson - Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Center

Renee Wilson is a 24-year-old Youth Champion from the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia. She exhibits strong leadership skills, volunteerism, and is a positive role model in her community! Renee is from the Gitxsan Nation and moved to Vancouver, BC in high school where she began volunteering at the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre and continues to do so in her spare time.

She graduated with a diploma in Family & Community Counselling and is currently working toward achieving a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work. She has completed the Duke of Edinburgh Program, the worlds leading youth achievement awards program.

Renee sits on the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centres Board of Directors as the Youth Representative, as well as the British Columbia Association of Friendship Centres provincial Aboriginal Youth Council. She is also the British Columbia Youth Representative of the National Aboriginal Youth Council (AYC) for the National Association of Friendship Centres (NAFC).

When asked about her role as a youth leader in addressing violence against Indigenous women and girls Renee stated, “I believe that the first step is to talk about it. By talking about it we are bringing more attention to the issue. More people are coming to the realization that violence against women and children aren’t just caused by men and that’s by talking about gender.”

If you know someone who is a Youth Champion or if you want us to highlight a Youth Champion from your Friendship Centre, send us an email!