The Strong Is Confident Program is Back
and Even Bigger This School Year

by Chloë Ranaldi

The Strong Is Confident program has started back up at Lakeside Academy this year, to help build girls’ confidence while they work out.

This year, the program has also expanded to Beurling Academy for girls in grade 9 and 10.

“I decided to join the club because most girls don’t feel as confident in a gym mixed with men and women, so this is a good opportunity to embrace yourself and feel good about your body.” said Shade Cain, a student at Lakeside Academy.

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The idea for Strong Is Confident started last year with LBPSB’s Andrew Bennett and Cat Tull.

“That time last year, we were really focusing on a lot of mental wellbeing and mental health,” said Cat Tull, project lead of Strong Is Confident, and FSSTT consultant at the LBPSB. “Being physically active helps with [mental health].”

Tull says the program was meant to get girls to try something new and get the students out of their comfort zones.

“The girls we chose last year weren’t comfortable taking risks, or taking part in teams, just because they didn’t feel good about themselves, they didn’t feel confident to do it,” Tull said.

She says doing crossfit helps women become stronger and at the same time grow their confidence, by seeing how capable they are.

Tull says once the students start moving their bodies, jumping, running or lifting weights– they feel stronger and therefore more empowered.

“If you’re strong and confident you’ll be able to do things, you’ll be comfortable getting involved in things you would never otherwise,” she said.

Kim Carpenter, a student at Lakeside Academy, who was part of last year’s pilot project, says she’s grateful for the experience.

“It taught me a lot about teamwork and how to get along with people who I didn’t know quickly, instead of being shy all the time.”

Carina Dyett Carnevale, a student at Beurling Academy taking part in the program says, “It’s important to teach [girls] confidence and you can work in public spaces and not be embarrassed and it’s just girls around you, so it’s not as judgmental.”

Tull says doing these difficult exercises, being vulnerable by working out, and accomplishing a workout, proves to these girls they can do anything– because they were able to do this, which was extremely difficult.

Strong is Confident was awarded an Excellence in Education award by QESBA last year for its work with students.

The program is hoping to expand to other schools so other girls can also benefit from Strong Is Confident.