The January Marie Lapuz Youth Leadership Award is an annual award bestowed upon a deserving youth who is 16 to 30 years of age and who has demonstrated involvement, commitment and leadership in the 2SLGBTQ+ community whether locally, nationally and/or internationally.

Your application should include the following:

1. Cover Letter
   Name, address, phone, email, age, date of birth, pronouns.
2. Photo
   Recent high resolution JPEG image of yourself (with a photo credit if possible).
3. Biography
   150-word biography.
4. Personal Statement
   500-word statement demonstrating  involvement, commitment and leadership in the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
5. Social Adversity Statement (Optional)
   500-word statement demonstrating social adversity and the impact it has had (this will be kept confidential).
6. References
   Include two to four of any of the following: reference letters, news articles or relevant website links to verify and confirm your application.
7. Demographics (Optional)
   For statistical purposes, provide your gender identity, sexual orientation and ethnicity.
8. Application Deadline
   Email application to Alex Sangha at info@shervancouver.com by December 31, 2020 at midnight.

Winners will need to provide a follow-up report within a year describing how the funds were spent. Prize money is to continue your volunteer work and community service within the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

Cash
Prizes

Winner: $1,000 CAD
1st Runner Up: $600 CAD
2nd Runner Up: $400 CAD
Honourable Mention: $200 CAD

Winners will be announced in January and will receive a letter of congratulations, a certificate and a cash prize funded by DIVERSEcity—our exclusive sponsor of the January Marie Lapuz Youth Leadership Award

Winners

2019: Norma Lize
2018: Shilpa Narayan
2017: Prachi Khanna
2016: Sukhdeep Singh
2015: Jaspreet Chahal

2019 Winners Presentation

Pictured from left to right: Neelam Sahota (CEO of DIVERSEcity), 1st Runner Up Andy Holmes, Winner Norma Lize, 2nd Runner Up Jackson Wai Chung Tse, Alex Sangha (Founder of Sher Vancouver) and Upkar Tatlay (Director of DIVERSEcity)

Who Was January?

January Marie Lapuz was born on April 9, 1986, in Santiago City, Philippines and passed away on September 30, 2012, in New Westminster, B.C. 

January was the Social Coordinator of Sher Vancouver, and was the first transgender person to hold an executive position within the organization.

She welcomed new members, connected them to information and support services, and helped organize and plan social activities and events. A singer and dancer, she also performed at Sher events. She was a kind, caring, generous and loyal friend, who helped other transgender women with their gender transition. 

January had many challenges and struggles as an immigrant, as a person of colour and as a transgender woman living in poverty.  Nonetheless, she was a bright light and shining star in Sher Vancouver.

She had a special ability to get people to put their differences aside and move forward in the best interests of each other and the organization.

​Not a day goes by that January’s friends don’t miss her.

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© Sher Vancouver, 2020