Liam comes from a single parent home. His mother is a survivor of domestic violence and his father has been in and out of jail for as long as he can remember. Liam moved around a lot, attending many different schools, so it was hard for him to find his place. Sometimes, Liam found it hard to fit in and find friends that understood him. Coming out as a transmasculine youth and finding his voice has helped Liam become the person he is today.

Liam applied to M.Y. Camp because he thought it would be interesting and fun. He was trying to find his voice and become a stronger person. At first, Liam was unsure whether M.Y. Camp would be a safe place for him, and he had doubts because he was different. But then he met Constable Dawn Freeland who made him feel at ease. Soon enough, Liam felt more sociable and was able to make new friends.

Like the other participants, Liam had to apply for M.Y. Camp. The one thing that made his application stand out from the rest was the comment “sometimes I just like to be alone”. On the first day of camp, Cst. Freeland wasn’t sure who was more nervous, Liam or his mom. She remembers wondering if Liam was planning to leave before lunch, but then he smiled for the first time and she knew he would be back the next day.

Once Liam felt at ease, a different personality started to shine through. He connected with the other youth participants and the adults at camp. He was fearless on the high ropes course, participating with everything he had. Liam especially loved the support dogs and the K9 unit!

Since M.Y. Camp, Liam’s confidence has changed significantly. He has gone from being shy and introverted to a young man who is proud and walks with his head held high. He is excited to share his M.Y. Camp experiences with his friends and classmates. Liam’s teachers and school administration have shared many positive messages about his success, especially his eagerness to be involved in making his community a better place.

Liam has been working hard to fundraise and collect donations for local food banks, but he still wants to do more. He is very interested in becoming a member of the Youth In Policing Initiative (YIPI), and he has Cst. Freeland’s full support.

“M.Y. Camp was one of my most favorite things I attended over the summer. It made a big impact on me because  I feel I am more open to meeting new people and have become more sociable. I have become more active since then and joined a boxing class with volunteer Halton Police officers. I have created a good support group and true friends from M.Y. Camp. Officer Dawn Freeland has been a fantastic help and someone I can look up to. I wouldn’t have been able to receive the 2019 Halton Region Youth Award without Officer Freeland and M.Y. Camp’s support. In the future, I hope to get into college and possibly become a Constable working with the K9 unit. Another path I have thought about is becoming a Kindergarten teacher. Who knows what my life will bring!” – Liam