Youth to gather at leadership forum

NEWS RELEASE

MOTIVATE CANADA

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This weekend youth from Northeastern Ontario will take a step in the right direction towards positive change; towards building healthier, more physically active communities.

Selected youth, between the ages of 16-24, will participate in Motivate Canada's ACTIVATE Northeast Regional Youth Leadership Forum hosted in partnership with the Sault College Student Union at the Sault College.

ACTIVATE Northeast is the final of seven (7) regional youth leadership forums taking place across Ontario this fall. 

Each of these forums is unique and led 'for youth by youth'.

Twenty-five youth delegates are expected to attend the weekend summit and all hailing from several surrounding communities such as Timmons and Sudbury.

The weekend training session, which will include workshops on physical literacy, sport programming, wellness (including mental-health), and leadership, will certify youth as 'ACTIVATE Trainers'.

Thanks to support from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care and others partners such as the Kids Help Phone and ParticipACTION's Teen Challenge Program, ACTIVATE Northeast will provide youth leaders with the training, resources, and confidence they need to deliver a Leadership Forum of their own design.

Through these Forums, teams of youth leaders will work with other young people in their region to help them realize their leadership potential and to create sport or physical activity projects in their communities.

Motivate Canada is also pleased to recognize the various community partners who have encouraged youth to attend ACTIVATE Northeast and who will be supporting them in the community post-forum:

• YMCA - Sault Ste. Marie
• YMCA - Sudbury
• Sault College Student Union (SCSU)
• Central Algoma Secondary School
• SOAR Rope Skipping Team
• Iron Bridge Recreation Committee
• Barrydowne College

Opening ceremonies for the weekend summit will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, November 29 (Sports Day in Canada) with a keynote presentation by National Boxing Champion and ESTEEM team athlete, Amber Konikow followed by a number of workshops throughout the day.

Konikow will be available for interviews and comments with media following her presentation.

When: Saturday, November 29 from 9 a.m., to 9 p.m., and Sunday, November 30 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where:  Rooms M2020 and A1080, Sault College, 443 Northern Ave, Sault Ste. Marie. Ontario

Since its inception in 2004, the ACTIVATE program has hosted over 16 Leadership Forums at national and regional levels.

Now, Ontario schools and community organizations and their youth leaders have the opportunity to take ownership of this program by creating their own Forums using the Youth Driven Development framework Motivate Canada has developed over

the past decade.

About Motivate Canada

Motivate Canada's Youth-Driven Development approach taps into the natural optimism, energy, curiosity, and adventurous spirit that young people have in abundance.

Using the power of sport, physical activity and positive peer role models, Motivate Canada's three core programs; GEN7, ESTEEM Team, and ACTIVATE, give young people the tools, training, and confidence to make a difference in their lives and communities on their own terms.

For more information please visit: www.motivatecanada.ca.

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