The SMARTRISK Youth Advisory Team (YAT) is made up of ten outstanding youth from across Canada who are passionate about injury prevention. The YAT help to shape the No Regrets program and contribute to special SMARTRISK projects throughout the year.

This year we opened up the YAT to applicants from the ages of 16 to 25. We are thrilled to welcome back several members who have served on the YAT in the past, a number of students currently involved in the No Regrets program, and a few who have no previous affiliation with SMARTRISK. Here is a quick look at the 2011-2012 YAT:

Arnav Agarwal – Mississauga, Ont.

Arnav is in his second year in Honours Bachelor of Health Sciences at McMaster University. He has a strong passion for scientific inquiry, community service, meeting new people and making a difference. He is also interested in creating music and poetry. Arnav truly believes in the messages of SMARTRISK and embraces the value of a long life of safe and enriching experiences over the value of a short life of unsafe enjoyment and lost opportunities. Arnav believes a domino effect of change begins with one person, one intention and one action. In serving on YAT, he hopes to engage youth in initiatives that promote their safety, and to empower them to be the first dominos and spark their own domino effects of change.

Nick Azad – Kamloops, B.C.

Nick is majoring in chemistry at Thompson Rivers University where he is entering his fourth year as a Dean’s List Scholar. He has been involved with SMARTRISK No Regrets for six years, since he joined as a high school student. Nick is a writer, a musician, a competitive varsity athlete, and is also active with a number of humanitarian and community organizations. Nick hopes to enter an MD or MD/PhD program after graduation, so the issues of youth injury and its prevention are very important to him. He sees the SMARTRISK No Regrets program as an important opportunity to educate others in his university and community about the need to make safe and informed decisions before they participate in sports or engage in potentially high-risk activities.

Katie Cotter – Moose Jaw, Sask.

Katie is a returning SMARTRISK YAT member as she was on the team in 2009. Katie first joined SMARTRISK in ninth grade at Vanier Collegiate in Moose Jaw, Sask., and has participated ever since. Currently, she is enrolled in the Faculty of Science at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and aims to become a nurse. In her free time, she enjoys playing basketball, singing and acting. The issue of injury prevention is extremely important to Katie as her friend tragically died in a car collision that could have easily been prevented. She firmly believes that no one should feel the pain of losing someone when the devastation can be avoided completely.

Caitlin Dobratz – North Bay, Ont.

Caitlin graduated from high school in 2008 and is now in her third year at Nipissing University, studying social welfare and development and sociology. She enjoys reading, writing, watching movies and spending time with friends and family. Caitlin has been involved with SMARTRISK since high school and is a returning member of the YAT. She feels too many young people are taking dangerous risks without thinking about the consequences. Caitlin knows that something as simple as wearing a helmet while biking or skating could be the difference between life and death, and appreciates the positive message that SMARTRISK offers: that there are many ways to have fun while reducing your chance of injury.

Leah Furyk – Thornton, Ont.

Leah is a Grade 11 student. She enjoys playing soccer, swimming and reading. Leah is hoping to study environmental engineering and Native studies. She is looking forward to contributing to the SMARTRISK Youth Advisory Team.

Maggie Gordon – Midland, Ont.

Maggie Gordon is new to the Youth Advisory Team this year but not to injury prevention, through her volunteer work around alcohol and drug awareness. A Grade 12 student, she plays basketball, volleyball, hockey and says it’s much more fun to be in the game than sidelined with injuries. She plans to study sciences in university and make a difference in people’s lives through research or hands-on treatment. Her goal in being part of this team is to help others to take that extra second to stop and think of the consequences before taking a risk that can change your whole game plan for your future.

Maggie O’Toole – Cape Broyle, N.L.

Maggie is in Grade 12 and hopes to enter university to study something in the medical sciences, such as pharmacy or nursing. She plays on her school’s softball and basketball teams, plays trumpet in her school band and sings in her school choir. Maggie joined SMARTRISK in 2009 when the program came to her school. She especially enjoyed the 700 faces initiative, which she found had a huge impact on her school community. The issue of injury is important to Maggie because it is so common and she has often seen the consequences first hand. Maggie feels that many injuries are preventable and wishes to work to raise awareness of taking smart risks.

Brittany Pye – Stellarton, N.S.

Brittany is a Grade 12 student, who first became involved in SMARTRISK No Regrets in 2008. She attended her first training session in 2009, and became very passionate about the issue of injury prevention. Brittany plays several sports, including badminton, mountain biking and soccer, and is very involved in her community through groups such as a local soccer club, the United Way and Special Olympics. As an athlete, she understands the need to stay safe and not cross her Stupid Line and because of this she enjoys promoting the five key messages in all her activities, especially when coaching. Brittany plans to attend university and pursue physiotherapy, medicine or recreation.

Anya Mayoss-Hurd – Peachland, B.C.

Anya is new to the SMARTRISK YAT. She became interested in SMARTRISK after participating in the No Regrets workshop with her school last fall. Anya has taken a variety of leadership courses and is involved with volunteer organizations and clubs at her high school where she is in . She has represented Peachland and the Okanagan across British Columbia, and in Toronto at the Miss Teen Canada World pageant. She babysits regularly and loves children. Anya is passionate about the outdoors and loves to camp and explore. She enjoys volunteering and aspires to be a registered nurse. Her goal is to complete an Ironman in support of the Canadian Mental Health Association.

Kory Snodgrass – Leduc, Alta.

Kory is in his 3rd year with SMARTRISK, coming back to the YAT for a second year. He is studying at the University of Alberta for a Specialization Degree in Animal Biology. Kory loves to travel, and with the strange weather in Alberta, play many different types of sports. He believes many injuries are preventable, and has seen and heard about too many where people could have used a little common knowledge to prevent them. He hopes to transmit the goals and aspects of SMARTISK No Regrets to people who may have not known about SMARTRISK, as well as those who are entering the program.