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A University of New Brunswick (UNB) Saint John student will receive the YMCA Southwestern New Brunswick’s prestigious Leader to Watch Award for 2024.

Laura Oland, 28, a doctoral candidate in history, will be recognized at the 34th Annual Red Triangle Awards Gala in Saint John on May 16 for her leadership and community involvement.

“It is flattering. I am always busy, and I realize that I’m making a difference for people, and they are noticing that I am making a difference,” said Oland.

“It is a great boost of confidence.”

The Leader to Watch Award is given to those aged 35 or younger who show skilled and enthusiastic leadership in an educational, family, career or community setting. The funds raised by the gala will support the Strong Communities Campaign.

Social justice activist Julie Dingwell will receive the 2024 Red Triangle Award at the gala.

“I’ve always been really involved, even as a kid. I was one of those kids who had a different activity every day of the week,” said Oland.

She spent her first seven years in Mahone Bay, N.S., then moved with her parents — both Saint Johners — to Rothesay, N.B. She now lives in uptown Saint John among a dynamic mix of people as passionate about the city as she is.

Her parents were involved in their community and church, and she volunteered as a child and teenager.

“Seeing positive change and positive reaction is something that has always appealed to me and fueled me. I’m not very good at sitting still or being by myself,” Oland said.

Shilo Boucher, president and CEO of the of YMCA Southwestern New Brunswick, says Oland has all the characteristics of strong, young leader.

“She meets all dimensions of the awards criteria, from being a leader in a board setting, demonstrating essential leadership skills as a volunteer and her willingness to act to support others,” said Boucher. “She is an inspiring role model who clearly encourages other young people to get involved to shape the future of our community.”

“Laura is a volunteer, board member and advocate, and her impact reverberates throughout Saint John, making her a truly remarkable individual deserving of recognition and praise. [She] exemplifies the essence of the Leader to Watch Award, showcasing resilience, compassion, and an unyielding dedication to equity within her community and beyond.”

Oland has been on the board of FUSION Saint John since February 2021, and its chair since January of this year. FUSION is targeted at younger adult professionals and hosts personal development events and partners with other organizations on workshops, as well as fun meetups.

“We have a lot of new people coming out and a lot of newcomers who come to our programming. A lot of the students are in the MBA program at UNB Saint John. It has become a safe space for people to interact and meet new people,” Oland said.

She has been with the Saint John Community Arts Board since February 2021, serving as vice-chair before becoming chair in May 2023. It offers residency programs and funding for artists to do work in the community. She is particularly proud of its grant writing workshops.

“I felt happy about helping artists in the community further develop their skills to hopefully get more money and more work in our community.”

She also serves as board secretary to Just Us Inc., which provides mental health therapy to those who otherwise might not be able to get it.

“We get lots of great client testimonies. They’ve gotten their mental health under control; they’ve been able to get jobs, and now they have benefits. It has just been a year-and-a-half and that it’s been quite impressive,” she said.

Her PhD in history is on the New Brunswick Museum’s art department, an institution where she worked for four years as a summer student while she obtained undergraduate and master’s degrees in Tudor history, with her master’s including fashion history. She worked at the museum for two years afterwards as well.

Her desire to write about the museum was inspired by Alice Lusk Webster, who “created a whole department that’s really quite astounding, with objects from all around the world.”

“Most of the public don’t realize the in-depth art collection within the museum or don’t think of the museum as a community centre or as much of an educational centre that it really is,” said Oland.

“Laura is a highly capable PhD student researching an important New Brunswick topic,” said Heidi MacDonald, dean of arts. “Her research contributes to cultural, gender, and transnational history, as well as highlights the founding, importance and evolution of the New Brunswick Museum.”

Saint John has a vibrant arts community, and historic and contemporary art can tell a city’s story.

“There is so much going on. So many people have connections to and are involved with different organizations,” Oland said.

She also works as a consultant for the arts and culture branch of the Department of Tourism, Heritage, and Culture, and as a UNB undergraduate teaching assistant. Oland says all this, besides activities such as public speaking and lectures on historical and cultural matters, keeps her busy.

“I enjoy everything that I do so that makes it worthwhile. I am passionate about all of them, and I enjoy all of them, so it makes it easy work,” Oland said.

“I still have that fire. I think that’s really the key point that if you’re feeling satisfied, it’s making you feel peaceful and you’re walking away with a smile on your face.”

Once she completes her doctorate she will seek employment in her field, either in teaching or at the museum. She would like to pursue politics to push positive change.

“I always see myself being involved in the community.”