Category Archives: 2013 Conference

YouthCAN seventh annual conference, “Fit For SUCCESS”

2013 Conference, Annual Conference, N.O.T.I.C.E. Newsletter, What's New?

7th Annual Conference Wrap Up “Fit4SUCCESS”

The seventh annual YouthCAN conference, themed “Fit for SUCCESS” and focussing on physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being, ran from August 12 – 14, 2013. Along with access to keynote speakers, 30 + workshops, 20 + community organizations, and various sports and activities, youth in attendance from around the province got the opportunity to share experiences, network, and build life-long connections.  Thanks to the YouthCAN coordinators, OACAS staff, youth champions and volunteers who planned and ran a successful conference.

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2013 Conference, What's New?

Aboriginal Youth in Care Gathering 2013

aboriginal youth gathering header cvent REVISEDThe Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies is hosting their first annual Aboriginal Youth in Care Gathering on August 10th-12th.

The purpose of this Gathering is to reach out to Aboriginal youth in care, ages 14 to 20, from across the province and foster positive cultural identities. Youth will have the opportunity to engage, network and connect with one another as well as participate in cultural programming.

The Gathering will be held in conjunction with the 7th Annual YouthCAN Conference (August 12th– 14th, 2013) and youth are encouraged to attend both the Aboriginal workshops alongside those that are provided by YouthCAN.

There may be travel subsidies available for youth that wish to attend both conferences.

Agenda:

Saturday August 10, 2013

12:00 PM  – 1:00 PM Lunch
1:00 PM  –  3:00 PM Opening/Welcome Smudge
3:00 PM  –  5:00 PM Registration
5:00 PM  –  8:30 PM Dinner and Entertainment

Sunday August 11, 2013

1:00 AM – 1:00 AM  Curfew
8:00 AM  – 9:00 AM  Breakfast
10:30 AM -12:00 PM  Sweat Lodge Ceremony Teaching
12:00 PM  – 1:00 PM  Lunch
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM  Craft Workshops
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM  Sharing Circle
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM  Sweat Lodge Ceremony
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM  Traditional Dance/Drum Demonstrations
4:30 PM  –  6:00 PM  Traditional Feast

Monday August 12, 2013

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Breakfast
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM Talking Circle: Future Directions
12:30 PM -1:30 PM Lunch
1:30 PM – 1:45 PM Closing Prayer/Song
1:45 PM -5:00 PM Free until YouthCAN Conference
3:00 PM – 4:45 PM Registration for 2013 YouthCAN Conference
5:00 PM -5:30 PM Traditional Opening Prayer and Smudge
2013 Conference, Annual Conference, Networking, What's New?

Fit for SUCCESS! 7th Annual Conference Overview

We are thrilled to open registration for the 7th Annual YouthCAN Conference, Fit for SUCCESS!  This year, the conference theme is centered around mental and physical well-being, and how being ‘fit’ in all areas, mentally, physically, academically, etc., is essential to being successful. The YouthCAN team, with advice from the conference planning committee made up of Children’s Aid Societies staff from across the province, has worked extremely hard to ensure that this year’s event will have something for everyone!

Here are some of the highlights:

  • Over 30 interactive workshops, including multiple workshops offered by former and current youth in care on topics such as the new CCSY policy, mental health, physical fitness, and life skills
  • Creative workshops on multiple forms of dance, art, and music/vocal, like Bollywood, salsa, spoken word, and physical storytelling
  • The conference will be attended by a number of community organizations that serve youth in care such as PFLAG, Supporting Our Youth (SOY), CTYS, The New Mentality, Planned Parenthood, YMCA, and Pape Adolescent Resource Centre (PARC)
  • a lunchtime “Opportunities Fair” poster session on August 13th featuring over 15 community organizations that serve youth in and from care
  • An introduction to Seneca College and interactive sessions hosted by Seneca staff on career planning, health and nutrition, cyber safety and more
  • “YouthCAN Idol” Talent Show
  • YouthCAN Dance
  • Recreational sports such as basketball, volleyball, and tennis
  • Lots of prizes  to be won for both youth and staff
  • Opening keynote by former youth in care and award winning musician Shy-Anne Hovorka
  • Closing ceremonies by Toronto’s Playback Theatre

On top of the jam-packed and fun program, youth and staff will get a real “post-secondary” experience at Seneca’s recently renovated campus!  You will eat at the college, sleep at the residence centre and hear from Seneca staff about programs, services and supports for students. There will be lots of opportunity for youth to think about post-secondary education as an option.

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2013 Conference, Annual Conference

Program Preview: Fit for SUCCESS! 7th Annual Conference

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Monday, August 12, 2013

3:00 PM  –  4:30 PM Check In. Notes
4:45 PM  –  5:00 PM Official Welcome from YouthCAN Staff
5:00 PM  –  5:30 PM Smudging Ceremony
7:00 PM  –  8:00 PM Key Note Speaker Shy-Anne Hovorka  (Senecentre) Shy-Anne Hovorka, an award-winning songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and performer and former youth in care will open the 2013 YouthCAN Conference will her powerful words and music of motivation, perseverance and determination.
8:15 PM  –  8:30 PM Group Check In and Prize Giveaways!
8:30 PM  –  9:30 PM Icebreakers – Make Your Own Flag!For this year’s icebreaker session, everyone will be split up by zone or agency, and with the materials provide, will design and create a flag that best represents their region. At the end, everyone will present their flags and a prize will be given to the most creative one!

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

9:45 AM  –  11:00 AM Scavenger Hunt: Are You Curious About What Seneca Has to Offer?   Follow clues that will lead you to visit different areas of the Seneca Campus, and learn more about student life and services available to students who attend Seneca, all while trying to find all the items/information that is required for your scavenger hunt.    Notes
9:45 AM  –  11:00 AM Checking Your Gear   In this informative workshop, learn how to use your hidden gifts and individual strengths to create your preferred future and career. Everyone has a range of unique talents and gifts that should never be overlooked in any career plans, so through an exploration of your accomplishments and the things you feel most proud of, we’ll reveal those things that make you unique. Then we’ll look at career plans that include those gifts and the steps to making it happen.
9:45 AM  –  11:00 AM Get Social: It’s Who you Know, What you Show, and How you Connect   Employers are increasingly using social media to find and screen potential employees. Participate in this hands on workshop and learn how to see yourself as others see you. You will develop and manage your personal brand using sites like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
9:45 AM  –  11:00 AM From Small Talk to Big Conversations: How to Speak to Any Audience with Confidence and Presence   From small talk to big conversations, learn how to speak to any audience with confidence and presence in this fun and interactive workshop hosted by Seneca Staff! Learn the importance of small talk, how to present an idea to a large group, sales persuasion, and much more!
9:45 AM  –  10:30 AM Career Geer   Discover your career options by considering your interests, values, abilities and personality traits. This workshop involves active participation, a visioning exercise and creating a career poster.
11:15 AM  –  12:30 PM Scavenger Hunt: Are You Curious About What Seneca Has to Offer?   Follow clues that will lead you to visit different areas of the Seneca Campus, and learn more about student life and services available to students who attend Seneca, all while trying to find all the items/information that is required for your scavenger hunt.
11:15 AM  –  12:30 PM Checking Your Gear   In this informative workshop, learn how to use your hidden gifts and individual strengths to create your preferred future and career. Everyone has a range of unique talents and gifts that should never be overlooked in any career plans, so through an exploration of your accomplishments and the things you feel most proud of, we’ll reveal those things that make you unique. Then we’ll look at career plans that include those gifts and the steps to making it happen.
11:15 AM  –  12:30 PM Get Social: It’s Who you Know, What you Show, and How you Connect   Employers are increasingly using social media to find and screen potential employees. Participate in this hands on workshop and learn how to see yourself as others see you. You will develop and manage your personal band using sites like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
11:15 AM  –  12:00 PM Career Gear   Discover your career options by considering your interests, values, abilities and personality traits. This workshop involves active participation, a visioning exercise and creating a career poster.
11:15 AM  –  12:30 PM From Small Talk to Big Conversations: How to Speak to any Audience with Confidence and Presence  From small talk to big conversations, learn how to speak to any audience with confidence and presence in this fun and interactive workshop hosted by Seneca Staff! Learn the importance of small talk, how to present an idea to a large group, sales persuasion, and much more!
2:00 PM  –  3:30 PM Diversity, Acceptance, and Understanding (PFLAG)  Focusing on LGBTQ/coming out, diversity, and acceptance and treating everyone with respect, this interactive workshop will increase awareness about myths and facts that lead to the lack of understanding and acceptance for LGBTQ youth. This workshop is both for LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ youth.
2:00 PM  –  3:30 PM Native Bead Earring Making   Hosted by Native Child and Family Services youth Shelby Mcdonald, you will make your very own set of earrings using beads in this fun and interactive workshop.
2:00 PM  –  3:30 PM Healthy Relationships (SOY)   Hosted by Support our Youth (SOY), this interactive workshop will stir up conversation and discussions on sexuality, identity, self-respect, peer support, race, sexual education, access, cultural differences, impressions and myths etc. and how these all relate to healthy relationships. Will also feature a game.
2:00 PM  –  3:30 PM Spoken Word   Great speakers can turn thoughts into powerful, moving words. They speak out loud and in public the words in their heads and the feelings in their hearts. Learn how to transfer your thoughts into words spoken in public. Learn how to master the art of public speaking with effective tips and techniques to help improve your presentation and communication skills.
2:00 PM  –  3:30 PM Laughter Yoga   Laughter yoga, (Hasyayoga) is a practice involving prolonged voluntary laughter. Laughter yoga is based on the belief that voluntary laughter provides the same physiological and psychological benefits as spontaneous laughter. Laughter yoga is done in groups, with eye contact and playfulness between participants. Forced laughter soon turns into real and contagious laughter.
2:00 PM  –  3:30 PM Youth Open Forum *YOUTH ONLY*   YouthCAN Coordinators will facilitate this open discussion session. Youth will have the opportunity to share personal stories and ask questions to some of their peers who may have had similar experiences. Topics may include: changing foster homes, changing workers, moving on to independence, high school or post-secondary education, and transitioning out of care.
2:00 PM  –  3:30 PM Chill Out! This interactive workshop will explore new ways of coping with stress through meditation, art-based activities, movement and discussion. Come, share and learn strategies that support physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.
2:00 PM  –  3:30 PM Know your Rights!   As youth in care you have rights – to be safe and cared for, to be heard and to be included in decision making about your life. The Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth is one place that you can go to get help when you feel that your rights are not being respected.
2:00 PM  –  3:30 PM Staff Open Forum  Youth Champions and other staff across the province have said that one of the most important and a beneficial aspect of YouthCAN is the opportunity for Youth Champions to come together for discussion and sharing. This session will be regarding what staffs think youth need for supports in the community and what type of support they need to access them.
2:00 PM  –  3:30 PM Sugar Hoops Intro to Hula Hooping   Join Sugar Hoops to learn the basics of hula hooping like you’ve never seen before. You will learn a few amazing tricks and how to incorporate them into some fun dance moves!
4:00 PM  –  5:00 PM Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and YouthCome and hear an update about what has been going in the world of child advocacy field since the Youth Leaving Care hearings!
8:15 PM  –  10:00 PM 7th Annual YouthCAN Talent Show!  Come and show case your amazing talents to your friends and YouthCAN Family!!! We are excited to see what everyone comes up with this year! Sign up by yourself or with a friend. Either way we can’t wait to see your talents!!! Remember 5 minutes for a group and 3 if you’re on your own!!!!
10:30 PM  –  12:30 AM
(Wednesday, August 14, 2013)		 7th Annual YouthCAN Dance!!  This year’s theme is DRESS 4 SUCCESS, so come dressed as your favorite role model, athlete, actor, or your career choice! Be creative, there will be a prize for “best dressed!”

 

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

8:45 AM  –  9:00 AM Morning Check In and Prize Giveaways! Notes
9:00 AM  –  10:30 AM Sex, Drugs, And Dubstep   Sarah MacDonald is a former youth in care now doing her MSW in critical social work at York University. Being in care means that there aren’t any rich parents to pay the rent so she also works full time with homeless youth in the City of Toronto. She thinks that she has the best job in the world and uses most of the skills she learned growing up in the system to be really good at her job. She began working in the field after getting involved with the National Youth In Care Network and spent two years as the board President. Get ready for some real talks on where we are at as ‘system kids’ today and what we can do about it. She can’t wait to meet you all and get in the loop with what’s happening these days … also any clarification about hipsters would be really appreciated…
9:00 AM  –  10:30 AM Teen Insomnia and Healthy Sleep (Youth and Staff)   Insomnia is more likely to affect teens than any other age group. This workshop will explore the importance of sleep and help you understand the physical and emotional causes of insomnia and how to manage them, now! For Youth and Staff.
9:00 AM  –  10:30 AM Money Management by Pape Adolescent Resource Centre (PARC)   PARC youth will facilitate a money management workshop where you’ll learn about the relationship between your money and you, learn what credit is and why it’s important, how to budget and save, how banking and investing works, and much more! For youth 16+ only, who are approaching independence or who are already living independently.
9:00 AM  –  10:30 AM Salsa   Salsa is unparalleled; rich, overflowing, mad, and one of the most organized and professional street dances in the world. Salsa has a variety of many influences such as disco, ballroom, and swing. However, all of Salsa’s movement winds around its roots in Latin American rhythm and soul. Youth will learn basic Salsa steps with an energetic teacher.
9:00 AM  –  10:30 AM BodyFit Bodyfit is our aerobic classes that combine rhythm aerobic exercises, with stretching and strength training routines with the goal of improving all elements of fitness (flexibility, muscular strength, and cardio-vascular fitness). Bodyfit classes are usually more up tempo, challenging and fun. Each class varies by the instructor and can have a combination of Hi/Lo, Step, Boxfit, Kettle bell, Bars & Plates, Dumbbells, body bar, and basis from yoga and Pilates.
9:00 AM  –  10:30 AM Bollywood   Bollywood and Bhangra style dances are fast and involve jumping, dropping and rapid arm movements. In this class students will learn the basics of typical Bollywood and Bhangra style dancing moves, including frequently used steps, hand gestures, and head and eye movements. You will learn some high energy moves in this high energy class
9:00 AM  –  10:30 AM Creative Visualization for Success: Take a journey into the power of the mind. Our minds are constructed to learn and program our experience through a visual landscape that can enhance our everyday lives. Utilizing meditation as the foundation for balancing the mind this course will teach the fundamentals for developing a creative visualization exercise for daily use. Benefits: * Increase self-esteem * Improve overall health * Direct positive energy towards your goals * Develop focus for goal attainment
9:00 AM  –  10:30 AM Empower Youth (Sexual Health)   This interactive peer-led workshop introduces the topic of HIV and sexual health in fun and interesting ways. Participants will learn about HIV basics, and use poetry as a way to talk about what HIV and sexual health means to them. No previous experience is necessary! This is a queer and sex-positive space.
9:00 AM  –  10:30 AM Information Session on CCSY Policy Directive **Staff Only**In this seminar hosted by the Child Welfare Secretariat, staff will learn about the new CCSY policy directive that is replacing ECM, in terms of youth/agency agreements, termination, youth plans and goal setting, etc. Staff will have the opportunity to ask questions at the end.
9:00 AM  –  10:30 AM Without an US there is no song to sing!  This workshop will explore the relationship between youth and their youth workers, their values and beliefs and youth and staff will brainstorm solutions by using real case examples. The goal is to reach shared understanding, trust and mutually supportive relationships. This workshop will be most useful if both youth and their workers participate.
10:45 AM  –  12:15 PM Theatre Guarantua Theatre Workshop   Taking part in a Theatre Garganuta workshop is a unique experience in the creation of original performance. Our workshop is based on structured improvisation, allowing participants the freedom to explore and expand their artistic boundaries. As an ensemble, participants will discover physical, textual and vocal compositional skills, and are encouraged to follow their creative impulses, developing their own movement, text and song. By the end of the workshop, the ensemble will be challenged to integrate all elements, shaped through Theatre Gargantua’s signature style of multidisciplinary theatre.
10:45 AM  –  12:15 PM Youth Open Forum **YOUTH ONLY**   YouthCAN Coordinators will facilitate this open discussion session. Youth will have the opportunity to share personal stories and ask questions to some of their peers who may have had similar experiences. Topics may include: changing foster homes, changing workers, moving on to independence, high school or post-secondary education, and transitioning out of care.
10:45 AM  –  12:15 PM Staff Open Forum   Youth Champions and other staff across the province have said that one of the most important and a beneficial aspect of YouthCAN is the opportunity for Youth Champions to come together for discussion and sharing. This session will be regarding what staffs think youth need for supports in the community and what type of support they need to access them.
10:45 AM  –  12:15 PM Physical Storytelling   Learn how to use alternative forms of expression to tell your story through movement, and experience how kinetic storytelling can bring a different perspective.
10:45 AM  –  12:15 PM Mural Art  Mental health
10:45 AM  –  12:15 PM Continue Care and Supports for Youth: Interactive information session about the new and improved Continued Care of Supports for Youth Program that replaces ECM. You’ll get the chance to ask questions, watch the new CCSY video featuring youth, frontline staff and executive directors and witness the beginning of a culture movement in the child welfare system in Ontario. Come on out and learn all about the new program and how it can benefit you!
10:45 AM  –  12:15 PM Healthy Weightloss   Hosted by Dr. Lisa Watson, in this workshop you’ll learn the importance of nutrition, healthy eating and how to reach your health and wellness goals through food. Learn about choosing healthy food options, vegetarian diets, the importance of water and tips on how to feel amazing and live a healthy life.
10:45 AM  –  12:15 PM Hip Hop Michael Bishun is an extremely talented b-boy and music video dancer, and in this fun hip hop workshop Michael will both teach and demonstrate the basic growth and inspiration that can happen through movement and music.
10:45 AM  –  12:15 PM Pilates (YMCA) Pilates is a slow, controlled, body conditioning routine that may help build flexibility, muscle strength, and endurance in the legs, abdominals, arms, hips, and back to restore the body in a neutral placement. It is mainly for rehabilitation purposes for elders and those with injuries. It puts emphasis on spinal and pelvic alignment, breathing, and developing a strong core or center, and improving coordination and balance. Pilates’ system allows for different exercises to be modified in range of difficulty from beginning to advanced.
10:45 AM  –  12:15 PM The New Mentality youth mental health
1:00 PM  –  2:45 PM Closing Ceremonies – Playback Theatre  (Senecentre) Imagine sharing a true story about your life and then watching it played back by a team of inspired actors and musicians. This is for real and the impact on fellow audience members is being truly moved by and personally identifying with the experience of whoever is speaking. It’s called Playback Theatre. Prepare to be inspired by real life!
2:30 PM  –  2:45 PM Grand Prizes and Departure!