Staff
Nearly 60 young women from across the district will be spending this coming weekend participating in fun activities and valuable workshops as the Young Women’s Conference rolls around for another year.
“The ultimate goal of the conference is that young women leave with a positive view for a hopeful future,” explained Robert Moore teacher Dana Kosowick, who has been involved with the Young Women’s Conference for seven years and called it an “amazing project to be involved with.”
The conference—for girls ranging from Grade 7-12—is planned and implemented by the Rainy River District School Board, in partnership with the Atikokan Crisis Centre, Northwest Catholic District School Board, and the United Native Friendship Centre.
This year it’s taking place at Luther Village, north of Sioux Narrows.
Several presentations have been lined up for this year, including Heather Watts from the “Lead Your Way” national aboriginal role model program.
Watts, from the Six Nations Reserve outside of Toronto, will be giving a motivational presentation on “positive decision-making” and smoke dancing for the group.
Julie Slack, with the Northwestern Health Unit in Atikokan, will present to the girls on body image and healthy eating while Ashley Dutton from Energy here will be leading a fitness class.
Workshops to bring out the participants’ artistic sides include a creative stamping project led by Kathi Gagne and a creative musical workshop using boomwhackers with Melanie Bodnar.
Fort Frances OPP Cst. Anne McCoy will be holding a workshop on Internet exploitation and threats while the Atikokan Crisis Centre will be leading workshop on its role in the community.
After returning from the conference, together with fellow participants and project teachers, the students then will present what they have learned to their fellow students.
“‘Students talking to students’ is an effective way to bring information to peers about sensitive topics such as harassment, respect for self and others, and sexual assault/teen dating violence,” noted Kosowick.
Key teachers from the local public and Catholic school board, as well as staff members from the Atikokan Crisis Centre, will supervise and facilitate the student workshops.
