Five students of the Kamsack Comprehensive Institute attended the provincial Students Against Drinking and Driving (SADD) conference at Saskatoon on October 16 and 17.
Accompanied by Tracey Fedorchuk, a teacher-advisor for the KCI SADD group, were: Kaylie Bowes (KCI SADD president), Lexie Tomochko, Laurissa Fedorchuk, Devin Klapatiuk and Jalayna Bielecki.
About 200 high school students from across the province attended the conference, Fedorchuk said last week. A highlight was the opportunity to hear the presentations of five speakers.
Greg Johnson of Regina, who is known as “the Tornado Hunter,” because he chases tornadoes, talked about tornados, risk taking and making positive choices, Fedorchuk explained. He discussed the difference between taking a risk and making a reckless choice, placing one’s self in harm’s way.
Former British Columbia resident Cara Filler of Washington State talked about how her identical twin was killed after she made the choice of getting into a vehicle with a driver who was known to drive at excessive speeds, she said. Filler explained how the death had affected the entire family and how one bad choice had affected so many people.
Rand Teed of Regina, who operates drugclass.ca on the Internet, discussed the effects of drugs and alcohol on teenage brains and showed images on how substances can decrease the level of brain activity, she said. Amanda Oling of Alberta, a former RCMP officer who had lost her father to a drunk driver, talked about her experience on the day her father died and of the man who had caused the crash and how it had ripped apart her family.
Kate Witfield of British Columbia who formed FearlesslyKiND, a national movement and school program based in Toronto, spoke about her program that is dedicated to inspiring young women across Canada to be kinder to themselves and each other.
Since 2012, FearlesslyKiND has reached over 50,000 girls in over 150 schools and universities in 10 provinces, says Witfield’s webpage. “Our fun, innovative one-of-a-kind FearlesslyKiND In School Summit has impacted tens of thousands of girls and provided them with the tools to create change, forgive each other, and heal the devastating effects of girl-against-girl bullying, creating a kinder girl world in the process.”
Whitfield started her speaking and girls empowerment company while still in high school, and since then, has spoken to teens all across North America and has shared her big-sister-style advice on radio and TV shows and is the author of a book on the subject.
“Kate’s approachable style, sense of humour and passion for inspiring young women has earned her a reputation of being an honest, bold and exciting speaker, and a real role model and big sister to a whole generation of girls,” the site says. “Kate has quickly established herself as a go-to expert on Gen Y, girls’ leadership, girl world relationships, and bullying.”
The conference included a video presentation by Mothers Against Drinking and Driving which encouraged students to have fun but also be prepared to be safe and discussed the legalities of responsibility, Fedorchuk said. For example, if an impaired person leaves a party, drives and gets into an accident, the host of that party may have some responsibility for the condition of the inebriated person.
“We enjoyed ourselves,” Fedorchuk said. The students liked the ideas that were expressed and planned to share what was learned with the other students of KCI.
The two-day conference ended with a banquet and dance and the Kamsack SADD group returned home on Sunday.
