A Journey of Impact and Belief

“I sincerely believe in the Award’s ability to impact youth, as well as their families and communities. Each time we manage to guide one young person toward a better path, we accomplish our mission.”

Lou Gizzarelli was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal on April 11th at a Toronto, Ontario ceremony recognizing his outstanding contributions to youth development and community service. He was recognized alongside other recipients from across Canada, as well as Gold Award holders.

As President of Quadient Canada, Lou leads a technology company specializing in communication, parcel and business process automation platforms. Between 1997 and 2005, he served as VP & GM of GBC Canada, a global manufacturer and marketer of binding, laminating and shredding solutions.

Beyond his professional success, Lou has a long history of volunteerism. For many years, he has served on the board of Cedarcrest Manor, a non-profit organization supporting seniors with affordable housing, currently as President & Board Chair. He is also a Director and Past Chair of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award in Canada.

Raised in Streetsville, Ontario, Lou holds BASc and MEng degrees in Chemical Engineering from the University of Toronto, where he also earned the ICD.D designation after completing the Rotman Director’s Education Program. He and his wife Janet live in Unionville, Ontario with their two daughters.

Lou recently shared reflections, personal stories and insights into how the Award has shaped his family and his views on youth development, leadership and the power of giving back.

A Family Connection That Grew into Something Deeper

“HRH Prince Philip first articulated the Award’s value in 1956: to help build character and provide a structured framework for personal development. He, together with Kurt Hahn, recognized that after World War II, England faced a crisis with many youth lacking meaningful activities. Both firmly believed that guiding young people early and establishing positive habits would significantly benefit their futures.

“When I first became involved with the program, our company had been financially supporting it annually. At that time, my daughters were quite young, and although I initially had to encourage them to participate, it proved wonderfully beneficial for both. I told them it would make their dad very proud, and both signed up, despite their initial hesitation and concerns about the workload and requirements. My wife and I actively supported them throughout their journeys.”

“Today the Award helps youth develop essential life skills, engage with their community, pursue new hobbies and embark on journeys they might not otherwise experience. I vividly remember realizing when the program truly resonated with my daughters when they acknowledged its value. Dad, you pushed us a lot, but now at every interview or event, we reflect on what we learned from the program. It helps us articulate how we’ve confronted challenges, turned obstacles into opportunities and solved problems.”

“One of my daughters was involved in a demanding journey in Algonquin Park when completing her Gold Award. She endured camping in temperatures as low as –9°C and washing dishes in freezing water. She still humorously recalls improvising meals when they ran out of ingredients, including substituting pepperettes in a butter chicken dish out of necessity, and hunger!”

“Their experiences profoundly impacted them, and they came to realize how privileged their daily lives were, living safely and comfortably in a sheltered bubble with food, education and easily accessible health care. Stepping outside of their comfort zones allowed them to experience and tackle new challenges, form strong friendships, value teamwork, creatively solve unexpected problems, and return home with incredible memories and laughter.”

Why the Award Keeps Calling Him Back

“I’ve been fortunate in my career – leading three companies and having a lot of fun along the way. What keeps me going to work every day are my two core motivations. First is my commitment to servant leadership, which involves continually asking, ‘How can I help?’ without expecting any direct benefit in return. And the second involves the many opportunities I’ve received throughout my life. My parents were immigrants, and I worked hard to educate myself. My father instilled in me the importance of giving back, a guiding principle that continues to shape my life.”

“My Award journey began when I saw first-hand its profound impact on young people, not only with my own children, but also through my experiences abroad. In 2018 I travelled to Africa, where we visited a school 50 km outside a large capital city. Witnessing our program in action in schools that had few other formal educational structures was profoundly inspiring, and its transformational effect on the children was both tangible and remarkable. The Award can give youth everywhere something meaningful to strive for and achieve.”

“Quantifying the impact, there is a very positive social return on investment in youth (SROI), not just figures on paper but its tangible impacts, continues motivating my involvement. After 15 years with the Award, I’ve been honored to have served as Vice Chair and then Chair and to participate actively across various committees. I sincerely believe in the Award’s ability to impact youth, as well as their families and communities. Each time we manage to guide one young person toward a better path, we accomplish our mission.”

A Moment of Realization on the Global Stage

“Participating in my first international Forum in 2015 was an extraordinary experience. Every three years, representatives from 130 countries gather for this significant event. Hosting the Forum in Toronto allowed me to witness the incredible commitment of people from around the globe dedicated to the Award’s mission. Although it’s primarily a youth-focused program, seeing such a diverse group, half of whom were adult volunteers, left a strong impression.”

“I marveled at how so many different people could unite around the shared purpose of achieving the Award’s global vision and mission. Since its 1956 inception, it has grown tremendously, this year reaching over 1 million young people worldwide. This realization took on an even deeper meaning 3 years later in Africa when I saw the program at work in large city and smaller village schools. It confirmed without a doubt that the Award community serves a larger societal purpose and is far more impactful than a social youth club.”

“The Award is a structured framework that helps young people develop at their own pace. As Prince Philip once remarked, it’s a do-it-yourself growing-up kit. While Award Leaders provide valuable guidance and encouragement, the friendships participants build are equally significant. My daughters formed lifelong friendships through their Award journeys, and they still reminisce about their experiences with laughter and disbelief at what they accomplished.”

“I vividly remember my younger daughter’s return home from her first camping trip. Covered in mosquito bites, she loudly declared she’d never participate again. Despite this initial reaction, she completed both the Silver and Gold levels. My older daughter faced her own challenges during a trip to Ecuador when she became ill and ended up in hospital. Rather than asking to return home, she persevered, demonstrating incredible resilience. Her willingness to overcome adversity reminded me of psychologist Angela Duckworth’s research on grit and perseverance as keys to success.”

“These experiences clearly illustrated that the Award is much more than a youth initiative. It can help shape and guide young people profoundly. My daughters continue to reflect on these impactful moments, recognizing how significantly they have contributed to their successful growth to adulthood.”

Global Perspectives Leave a Lasting Mark

“I’ve met many remarkable people during my Award journey. One who has had a significant impact on me is Dr. Howard Williamson, Professor of European Youth Policy at the University of South Wales in the UK. He served as a trustee on the International Award Foundation board for many years, is widely recognized as one of the world’s foremost experts on childhood and youth development and regularly speaks and presents on youth issues across Europe.”

“It wasn’t until I met Dr. Williamson that I realized how much I still had to learn about youth development, particularly how various social determinants can profoundly affect a young person’s socialization. As well as being an esteemed expert, Dr. Williamson has become a friend. He’s an incredible individual, committed and passionate about making a tangible difference, not only professionally but also personally as a father himself.”

“He significantly shifted my perspective by highlighting the importance of investing in young people early. If we can engage them in their youth, we can influence them positively for life. He also opened my eyes to the reality that while we are making progress, there’s still an enormous amount to be done, in part because far too many countries are not paying nearly enough attention to youth development.”

“We still exchange Christmas cards, and I remain in contact with many of the other connections I’ve made through my Award experiences. It’s exciting and motivating to consider the caliber of individuals who serve on our International Council – accomplished people around the world volunteering their time and expertise simply because they believe in what we do. They receive no substantial compensation, just a heartfelt thanks. This speaks volumes about the true essence and value of the Award, something many people might overlook. It’s clear that our work’s impact is global, and I’m proud to help Canada do its part.”

A Vision for the Award in Canada

“We’re barely scratching the surface when it comes to addressing Canada’s market potential. We have about 5 million kids in our age 14-24 cohort today, yet we’re currently reaching far less than 1% of them. That tells us there’s substantial room for growth and impact. This reality motivates me to keep serving, because our program is versatile enough to be adopted by every school in the country, public or private. Imagine the impact if everyone understood the Award’s value. When you get entire schools and whole grade levels involved, participation and completion rates skyrocket and communities benefit. The fact that there’s so much untapped potential here makes me both excited and frustrated – excited about the possibilities our framework holds, yet frustrated that we’ve only just begun to make an impact across our vast country.”

“Often when I’m fundraising each November, people ask if royalty funds our work. The name carries royal heritage, thanks to Prince Philip who brilliantly identified the post-WW II need and built this initiative from the ground up, yet despite its royal origins, the Award is completely self-funded. There is a registration fee for every level, and our financial sustainability relies heavily on high-net-worth donors, foundations, parents and other family members who can generously support our mission. Because not all can, we aim to ensure that fees are never a barrier to participation.”

“So, while we are making strides, we must remain focused on realizing our full potential here in Canada. The Award has reached only a small fraction of the millions of Canadian youth who could benefit from it. Our work continues, and we remain committed.”

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