Awards: 20th anniversary of local ceremony will include epicurean take on comfort foods

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MARY-ELLEN SAUNDERS
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL

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SAINT JOHN - The Saint John YMCA-YWCA will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Red Triangle Awards with a gourmet camp cook-out.

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Matthew Sherwood/Telegraph-Journal

Shilo Boucher, chief operating officer for the YMCA, says the Red Triangle Awards will help kids go to camp, among other activities.

"Rather than the traditional sit-down rubber chicken, we are going to do something different," said Christine Comeau, chair of the 2010 Red Triangle Awards Gala. "It is inspired by kids and camping. When you think back to your childhood you have fond memories of camp and the relationships that are built."

Comeau said the gala exists to honour and pay tribute to community leaders and to support the Y's efforts to pay for children to attend programming they may otherwise not be able to attend. She said camp can completely change the lives of children in vulnerable situations.

"A lot of the money we raise goes toward campers. We found that everybody in the Y has been, in one form or another, to camp," said Shilo Boucher, chief operating officer of the Saint John Y. "It is a great way to promote camping which people are passionate because of the way it touches people lives."

Boucher said the gala on April 22 will feature gourmet camp-inspired food stations that could include gourmet spins on hamburgers and macaroni and cheese, a virtual campfire, a craft at each table and campfire songs.

"We are trying to make it a little more fun to mark our 20th anniversary," Boucher said.

She said the red triangle, which represents the mind, body and spirit of a person, has been associated with the Y since its inception. Boucher said the Saint John Y used the concept of the Red Triangle when it created an award in 1990 to recognize the long and outstanding contributions of community leaders.

Boucher said other Y's have taken on the Red Triangle Award, but none as strongly as the Saint John Y that hosts a gala and awards for one person it honors each year.

"It is very unique to Saint John," Boucher said. "The Y wanted to do something to help leaders stand out and to recognize them because they don't always get recognized."

In 2002, the Y added a second award - Leader to Watch. She said it is given to a young person based on their community involvement and many of those who have received it have gone on to accomplish greatness in the communities.

All of the money raised at the Red Triangle Awards Gala goes toward the Strong Kids Campaign, Boucher said. The campaign allows all children to participate in Y programming, including camp, no matter what their financial situation is.

"The positive affect is that we raise much needed funds that help the Y stay open to all no matter what economic barriers they have," she said.

On Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Y's Prince Edward Square location, Boucher said the Y will announce the names of the award recipients.