Food Allergy Canada would like to congratulate the recipients of the seventh annual Sabrina Shannon Memorial Award: Emily Rose Belbin (Georgetown, ON) and Whitney Walls (Quispamsis, NB). Whitney and Emily Rose were selected from a large number of applicants for their demonstrated commitment to raising awareness and educating others about severe allergies.
Whitney is 19 years old and is enrolled at the University of New Brunswick, Saint John. She has been a long time advocate for allergy awareness and received accolades for speeches on the subject. She is an active member of the Sweet Caroline foundation that does awareness work in honour of Caroline Lorette – a teen who suffered a fatal anaphylactic reaction in 2014. Whitney visits schools and wellness fairs in her community, offering training and education about anaphylaxis to thousands of people.
Emily Rose is 18 years old and is entering her first year at McMaster University. From a young age, Emily Rose has been passionate about sharing her own first-hand experiences and knowledge to help others with food allergies. She has been a long-time volunteer with Food Allergy Canada and has hosted bake sale fundraisers, helped with teen educational resources and penned the “Ask a Teen” column in our Kids Club Newsletter.
Food Allergy Canada would like to thank all of the award applicants for their initiative, creativity, and commitment to raising allergy awareness and educating others in their communities. We received many excellent applications from across the country, and selecting recipients was not an easy task.
The Sabrina Shannon Memorial Award is dedicated to the life of Sabrina Shannon, an inspiring teenager who suffered a fatal anaphylactic reaction in 2003. During her life, Sabrina worked to raise allergy awareness by creating the first-person radio documentary, “A Nutty Tale,” which aired on CBC radio in 2001. Since her passing, Sabrina’s parents and other members of the allergy community have kept her spirit alive by advocating for allergy-safe schools and communities. In 2005, Sabrina’s Law was passed in Ontario, providing landmark legislation that has influenced anaphylaxis policies in schools across Canada.
We are proud to honour Sabrina’s memory. The Sabrina Shannon Memorial Award is made possible through an educational grant from TD Securities.
Tags: Awards, Sabrina Shannon