Lumsden High School hosts Gay-Straight Alliance Student Summit
High school students from the Prairie Valley School Division gathered in Lumsden to build and support the LGBTQ2S+ community with the third annual Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) Student Summit.
Paula Dvernichuk is a teacher at Lumsden High School and said over 100 students participated in the summit.
"We have about 120 participants here at the school and we are doing different sessions on what GSA is like the history of queer, what it was like to grow up in a queer in a small town,” said Dvernichuk. “We did some arts and crafts and we had some queer literature while just trying to celebrate our LGBTQ2S+ kids.”
Cas is one of the student leaders for the event and one of the speakers, he says its taken time to become comfortable talking about his story.
"The main reason that I always tell people is that so people can kind of understand that specifically regarding like LGBTQ2S+ mental health, they are not just numbers, they are actual people,” said Cas.
Cas adds there is no better feeling than providing a safe space.
"I think part of the mission for me anyway has always been ensuring people have a safe space to be,” said Cas. “I can't describe the feeling of being in a room with a bunch of other people that are exactly like you.”
Ashlynn Brooks and AJ Angell traveled from Milestone Sk. to Saturday’s event and are motivated by Cas’ story.
"I can relate to their stories like what I'm going through and like being non-binary and deciding which pronouns I want,” said Angell. “Which sexuality goes along with it makes me feel more comfortable.”
Providing a safe space for the students to be themselves was a goal for Dvernichuk.
"The excitement Saturday morning of the kids just being themselves,” said Dvernichuk. “Asking questions like, I can use my real pronouns, or I can, use my real name, I can wear what I want, and be who I want.”
Dvernichuk adds that smaller communities are improving when it comes to accepting the LGBTQ2S+ community.
"I think as more and more communities understand that these kids are here and that more LGBTQ2S+ community is in the small towns, it's only going to get better and better for these kids and it's only going to get better for the community,” said Dvernichuk.
Organizers are hoping that the summit spreads to other schools within the division in the future.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.