Laura Belanger-Ihlen is the recipient of the Kootenay Branch 2024 Community Service Award.

Laura is an individual who exemplifies a person who rises above adversity and has genuine engagement wherever she is and whomever she is with.

Her achievements include:

• School liasion and coordinator for the The Coldest Night of the Year, which brings awareness to, and raises funds for, those without shelter and low-income families.
• Working for the Canadian Cancer Society to coordinate a school Relay for Life.
• Volunteering at the not-for-profit St. David’s Thrift Store.
• Working at the Castlegar Public library, where she enjoys working with a broad spectrum of our community.
• Worked at the Summer at the Skate Park program for the past seven years.
• Editor of the school yearbook for the past two years.
• Maintaining an A+ each school year.