2025 Community Service Award – Layan Kutieleh

Aubrey Searle, and Stanley Hortness present Layan Kutieleh with the Community Service Award.

Layan is a student at Frank Hurt Secondary School. Layan and her parents immigrated to Canada from Syria when she was 6 years old.  She is an interpreter with ISS of BC helping clients who have difficulty with the English language.

She is a member of the Surrey Leadership Youth Council and was a participant in organizing the Surrey Youth Speak up Forum.  Canada Service Corp sponsors PICS ( Progressive Intercultural Community Services).

 Layan worked 120 hours on the program and was given a “micro grant”. She used the grant money to provide gifts for indigenous youth who are being helped at FRAFCA – an indigenous healing centre in Surrey. 

She founded an indoor soccer Club and a Guitar Club at her school and the club now has 20 members. Assisted at the Concours d’art Oratoire and the Bear Creek Light Festival, working at the Christmas Bureau.

 Layan volunteers with the Rise above Expectations and is a supervisor for YOUth Say No to Hate & Racism