At just 15 years old, Alida Tomasini is already making waves in her community.
As co-leader of the Rainbow Initiative Orillia, Tomasini has become a driving force behind youth-led change in the city, creating spaces where young people can turn their ideas into meaningful action.
That drive to uplift others is what earned her this year’s Young Leader Award at the OrilliaMatters Community Builders Awards.
She launched the initiative at just 14, after noticing how few opportunities there were for youth to actively participate in community projects. “Kids have so many ideas,” Tomasini explained, “But they don’t always get the opportunity or creative control to explore them.”
Instead of waiting for change, she created it.
The Rainbow Initiative gives youth the chance to design and lead their own projects, while building key skills in leadership, communication and collaboration.
Tomasini’s approach isn’t about directing from the top, it’s about empowering from within.
“I’m passionate about this work because I wish I’d had an opportunity like this when I was younger,” shared Tomasini. “If something like this had existed, I could’ve explored my own ideas to help the community.”
Now, she gets to help others do just that.
Parents and mentors describe Tomasini as thoughtful, collaborative and deeply motivating.
Whether she’s leading a meeting or celebrating someone else’s success, her focus is always on making sure everyone feels supported and heard.
One of her proudest moments came during the initiative’s first Pitch Night, where participants shared their ideas with peers and community members.
“I got to hear all the ideas the kids came up with,” Tomasini shared. “It was honestly so nice to sit back and see the progress that had been made. After putting in so much time and effort, I could finally relax and appreciate what we had accomplished.”
That kind of impact doesn’t go unnoticed.
When Tomasini found out she’d been chosen for the Young Leader Award, she was genuinely surprised.
“I hadn’t heard about the Community Builder Awards before, so I was pretty surprised,” expressed Tomasini. “But it’s such a nice way to acknowledge people who are doing community work in Orillia.”
The recognition meant more than just a plaque or a title. “It’s good to know that people notice what you’re doing,” Tomasini said. “It can be hard to keep going for a long time,especially when you’ve got a lot going on, but having people recognize the effort really helps.”
Even as she’s being celebrated, Tomasini is staying grounded and focused on what’s next.
“Right now, I’m still helping all the projects get up and running,” Tomasini said. “I’d love to run this program again in the future, but I think we’d need more people and resources to make it even more effective.”
She’s also looking ahead to her next personal milestone, launching a new community initiative through the PEAC program at her high school. “In Grade 10, I’ll be starting a new community project,” Tomasini shared.
Her advice to others who want to lead? “No matter how young or old you are, if you have a vision, don’t be afraid to at least try,” stated Tomasini. “There are always people who want to help and support you.”
Through her leadership, Tomasini has helped a generation of young people believe in themselves, and shown the rest of the community what’s possible when you make space for youth to lead.
The Young Leader Award is presented to an individual or group under the age of 25 who is actively involved in meaningful community service and shows a commitment to making their community a better place for others.
Congratulations, Alida!
This award is proudly sponsored by Orillia Home Hardware Building Centre.
