My passion for making positive change has been reinvigorated!
--2015 Alumni Conference participant
CONNECTIONS Alumni Conference
May 1- 3, 2015, Kamp Kiwanis
The 2015 CONNECTIONS Alumni Conference was a pilot project that gathered 22 former CONNECTIONS students from 11 schools across Alberta. Schools represented included Bishop Carroll, Crescent Heights, Lester B Pearson and Sir Winston Churchill, Chestermere High and Cochrane Distance Learning Centre, Cold Lake Off Campus, Crowsnest Consolidated, Duchess High, St. Anthony’s in Drumheller and Wainwright High.
18 organizations presented 22 different workshops, 5 led by youth, 2 by CONNECTIONS '07 & '13 Alumni, and explored topics and activities such as
- Making Dreamcatchers;
- Mental Health & Wellness;
- Aboriginal culture & traditional knowledge;
- Reconciliation and Healing;
- Canadian History;
- Leadership Styles;
- Being an Ally against homophobia;
- International food security;
- Learning how to make Fry Bread;
- Demystifying Islam and;
- Taking action using social media.
All of our presenters volunteered their time to share knowledge and expertise. Please take a moment to visit their pages for more information about their organization and ways you can stay connected. Several of our presenters are happy to reconnect and their emails have been linked to their names.
Alexandra MacDonald; Alfredo Barahona, Kairos Canada; Ann Normand, Work Wild; Ann Gray-Elton, SEEDS Connections; Anna Marie Ashton, Leadership Calgary; Beth Allan; Brett Rothery; Corinne Craig, SEEDS Connections; Dixie Taylor, Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth; George Taven, SEEDS Connections; Janice Shaw,; Jane Ripkens; Jennifer Walden; Jerilyn Daniels, RBC; Kala Walton (Skye); Kelly Timmons, St. Anthony’s High School;, Khaliq Adatia, RBC; Kiwanis International; Lisa Raber, Fighting Anti-Semitism Together; Lynn Douglas, Cenovus; Maria Sarro, Money Mentors; Nick Moore, Calgary Youthlink Police Interpretive Centre; Owl's Nest Books; Rita Erven, Cenovus; Rick McFerrin, Two Wheel View; Robyn Kurbel, Journey 2050; Sandra Hayes Gardiner;, Shandi Covell, Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary; Sofia Clunie, SEEDS Connections;; Stephanie English; Sydney Gill, Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary; Thomas Keenan; Wendy Ruzicka, Chestermere High School
Video
Please watch this short VIDEO of the Conference produced by the Student Planning Committee.
Additional PHOTOS from the Conference can be found HERE.
Feedback
100% of Conference participants rated 4/5 or better when asked if the conference met or exceeded their expectations (69% rated 5/5, 31% rated 4/5). Many of the students commented during the debrief visits that the Conference was something they would like to see become an annual Re-CONNECTIONS gathering at Kamp Kiwanis. We already have so many Alumni eager to participate in the planning for the 2016 Conference! Thank you all for your support and enthusiasm. Participants commented, “I feel like my passion for making positive change has been reinvigorated” and “I have been able to connect and reconnect with amazing people" and "I’ve learned about so many programs I want to be a part of."
The pilot CONNECTIONS Alumni Conference was truly a team effort! We would like to gratefully acknowledge each of our partners without whom this Conference would not have been possible.
For further information and to stay updated about the 2016 CONNECTIONS Alumni Conference, please see the Conference page or contact Natasha at nsarkar@seedsconnections.org
