Kayishmand Hormuzd Chothia, from Halton Hills, Ontario, Canada was recently awarded ‘The Covid Classic Award’ for Visual Arts by the Halton District School Board. She becomes the first recipient to receive this newly instated award, given for the first time this year from the Halton District School Board and will be given every year moving forward. Kayishmand is the first and only person to receive this award from the entire Halton Community. 

The award celebrates those who went above and beyond with their contributions, especially during the Covid Pandemic – a time when you need to go the extra mile in service of your fellow beings. An excerpt from her citation reads, “She has gone above and beyond to use her art skills to better both, our school and the greater Georgetown community. She has participated in events that support senior citizens, connecting them with arts students and she has helped kids with art initiatives. Furthermore, she has also gone above and beyond to stay connected with the art department during these stressful quarantine months, creating beautiful art that she shared for the visual art department to use on our social media. Her community rocks were a real highlight!” 

The daughter of proud parents, Khushamin and Hormuzd Chothia, 15-year-old Kayishmand actually took home two awards – the other being ‘Star Performer’. She studies at Georgetown District High School, currently in the 9th grade and is a Third Degree Black Belt practicing Shotokan Karate. Her hobbies include singing, art, photography, teaching karate, listening to music and graphic designing. Speaking to Parsi Times, she shares, “I get my inspiration from my mom – Khushamin.” And her life-philosphy? It’s based on “my favourite quote – ‘When life knocks you down, you can choose to get back up’, by Jackie Chan,” she quips! 

If you’d like to see her work, log on to Insta:  @kayc_photography_