‘Rachel’s Challenge’ tickets available

Heather Latter

Rachel Scott lost her life in the Columbine High School massacre back in 1999, but her message of compassion lives on.
And local residents will have an opportunity to view the “Rachel’s Challenge” presentation at the Townshend Theatre on Sept. 28-29, beginning at 7 p.m. and running for about an hour.
While Grades 7-12 students across the district will see the presentation during school hours, the public is also invited to the event.
“It’s free, but people do need to pick up tickets,” explained Steve Latimer, youth justice co-ordinator with the local United Native Friendship Centre.
Tickets will be available on a first come, first serve basis and will be limited to two per person.
They can be picked-up at Northwoods Gallery & Gifts, UNFC on Portage Avenue, and at Cloverleaf Grocery in Emo.
“It’s just a wonderful program,” Latimer enthused.
“It’s all about starting a chain reaction of kindness and just changing the way kids act towards other kids,” he explained.
The mission of “Rachel’s Challenge” is to inspire, equip, and empower every person to create a permanent positive culture change in their school, business, and community by starting a chain reaction of kindness and compassion.
“You don’t want to miss this presentation,” he advised. “I’m optimistically hopeful that the tickets for will go quickly, so get yours as soon as you can.”
Latimer has been accumulating funds for months in order to bring “Rachel’s Challenge” to the area.
“We now have all the funding that we need committed to us,” he indicated, citing besides bringing in the presentation, he also wanted to purchase resources for each school so that can take up “Rachel’s Challenge” and continue with the positive culture change.
Latimer has been able to purchase kits for each school, which contain a handbook, a classroom manual, a journal, banners, posters, kindness cards, and other materials.
And thanks to the Family Violence Network, a series of three books featuring Rachel Scott’s message have been purchased for each public library and high school library in the district.
More than 2,000 students from all three school boards in the area (Rainy River District School Board, Northwest Catholic District School Board, and Seven Generations Education Institute) will view the “Rachel’s Challenge” presentation.
Sept. 28 will see three assemblies, each one hour and 15 minutes long, at the Townshend Theatre.
The following day will feature two assemblies, as well as a peer training session in the afternoon that selected students will attend.
The final day of the program will be held in Atikokan, with students from Mine Centre and Lac La Croix attending there.
“I really do think this is the best possible program the students could ever get,” Latimer enthused. “And it’s going to be possible because the communities have just stepped up to the plate like they always do.”
For more information, visit www.rachelschallenge.org