On Thursday, March 27, 35 students from three local schools—Minto Elementary Middle School, Gagetown School, and Cambridge-Narrows Community School (C-NCS)—gathered at C-NCS for a district-sponsored Youth Empowerment Summit.
The event—co-sponsored by the Village of Arcadia, the provincial Department of Justice and Public Safety’s Capital Region Resiliency Network, the C-NCS Home & School Group, Jemseg Lions Club, and the Chipman Forest Avenue School alumni group—featured guest speakers sharing insights on mental wellness, resilience, and overcoming obstacles. The audience of middle- and high school-students, and educators, took part in engaging discussions on self-confidence, anxiety, stress management, and personal growth.
“The goal was to equip students with the tools and inspiration they need to face challenges in today’s world”, said ASD-W Community School Coordinator Marcy Malloy. “Hearing real stories from our speakers really resonated with [students].”
The goal of the event is for students to go back to their schools with knowledge and funding to roll out a program they feel will make a positive impact in their school and community. Whether related to inclusion, diversity, anti-vaping, mental wellness and self-care, or a myriad of other topics, students will work with their teachers to develop an action plan for implementation in the coming months.
C-NCS Grade 11 student Dylan Dykeman said, “It was a great time to gather and socialize, and have these important discussions in a relaxed setting.” Dykeman’s classmate Tyler Landry added, “the speakers were great and touched on a lot of problems happening in our schools.”
Students left the summit feeling motivated and empowered to make positive changes in their respective communities.
“It was an amazing day of learning”, said Izzy Connell, a Grade 11 C-NCS student. “I am so grateful to everyone who took time to share their stories and knowledge. It really helped change my mind in thinking about the things I can do to make positive change in my school and community.”
Events like this highlight the importance of encouraging youth through education, ensuring they have the confidence to navigate life’s challenges, and to share what they’ve learned with their peers.
“It was so wonderful to see students taking action,” said Amy Floyd, community program coordinator with the Canadian Mental Health Association. “Rural schools are small but mighty in their ability to make change happen quickly. The energy was so great, and I look forward to seeing what these young leaders bring back to their schools, and the great things they will be working on in the years to come.”
Our community partners, the Canadian Mental Health Association, Public Health, Horizon Health, and the Nove’s Place Community Network Foundation, facilitated sessions for our educators and students.
“Watching the positive energy of youth, actively engaging with community partners, offers a future glimpse into a healthy and thriving community,” said Nova Lea Thorne, founder of the Nove’s Place community space. “One can say, with confidence, that the world will be a better place, because of them.”
— By Valerie Carmichael and Marcy Malloy, ASD-W Community Coordinators
— Photos by Emma Vail Photography