Meet student leader Berlinda Mclaren
Nipissing students consistently impress as leaders, in the classroom, on campus and in the community. Recently the university celebrated 25 student leaders at the annual Dave Marshall Leadership Awards. Over the coming months, NU News will introduce each student leader to the wider community with a short article discussing their accomplishments and activities. Today, we are pleased profile Bachelor of Education student Berlinda Mclaren.
Mclaren has been an active volunteer on campus with the Office if Indigenous Initiatives throughout her degrees. She has been a volunteer for Wiidooktaadwin Mentorship Initiatives, the Peer2Peer Mentorship Program, and Biidaaban Mentorship programs. Beyond this, Mclaren has volunteered her time with beading workshops, sharing circles, smudges, moccasin workshops and homework sessions. She was also a Camp Counsellor with the Aboriginal Summer Programs.
As part of her Biidaaban Community Service Learning, Mclaren developed a Circle of Caring program for elementary school classes in partnership with the non-profit organization COPA (Ontario Centre for Prevention of Aggression). Circle of Caring is an anti-bullying initiative whereby community members and local professionals visit elementary school classrooms for story-telling and teachings about being kind. During this program, children also had the opportunity to build friendships using The Friendship Salad Kit developed by Mclaren.
Mclaren also authored a children’s book, titled The Boy with the Braid. The purpose of this book was to help build understanding among children about the cultural significance of indigenous people having long hair and braids.
Mclaren is inclusive of everyone. She makes sure that everyone feels like they belong. She is a strong advocate of education and is a natural teacher who goes out her way to share her experiences, herself, and her culture with others.
The university community is proud to recognize Belinda Mclaren with a Dave Marshall Leadership Award in the Community Category.