LBPSB High School Students Take Part in the Canadian Student Leadership Conference
by Chloë Ranaldi
Students from Westwood Senior High School, John Rennie High School and St. Thomas High School attended a three-day workshop, in Haliburton Ontario, for the Canadian Student Leadership Conference.
The national conference ran from Oct. 5 to the 8th and brought together students from across the country.
The theme of this year’s conference was echoes of empowerment.
The long weekend at Camp White Pine featured several notable keynote speakers including Shaun Boothe, Humble the Poet, Peter Katz and Kate Beirness.
Daphnë Trépanier-Mehnert grade 11, Jenna Georgiadis, grade 10, Samantha Bellini, grade 10, and Kalysta Karpontinis represented St. Thomas High School.
Ms. Audrey MacDonald, a math and science teacher at the school, recalled one student getting out of the car after arriving at the conference and saying, “I’m nervous, I’m not a social butterfly.”
MacDonald said, during a keynote speech, Humble the Poet serendipitously said, “Everyone is a social butterfly, you just have to find your garden.” 
“The keynote speakers talked about their journey with leadership and the hardships they had to overcome,” said Jenna Georgiadis, grade 10.
“The workshops ranged from physical activities with friends and teamwork to leadership and activities to do with school,” said Georgiadis.
“One of the keynote speakers said to be authentic to you and do stuff that makes you happy, and to not please other people,” said Daphnë Trépanier-Mehnert grade 11. “And there are so many unique ways of leadership, and you have your own.”
Samantha Bellini echoed that sentiment “Kate Beirness, a TSN reporter emphasized that it’s ok if you’re not like everyone else. And being you is more important than fitting the norm.”
The students spoke about how much they enjoyed meeting other students from across the country and learning more about the different provinces.
John Rennie High School students who attended the National Conference include: Elora McMahon, Lianne Cohen, Emerson Maughn and Alexander Mittas, they were accompanied by Mylena Natcheva and Erika Breck.
The delegation from Westwood Senior included students Abigail Arlen, Max Di Battista, Sierra Goodridge, Sienna Nunes Mancini and Student Leadership Advisor and English teacher Catherine Hogan.
