Eight hundred student leaders were welcomed to Tisdale Middle & Secondary School for the Saskatchewan Student Leadership Conference.
“Students, congratulations on being here and having the courage, the commitment, the diligence. You’ve already taken the first great step towards leadership and I applaud you for that,” said Randy Kerr, the high school’s principal during the opening ceremonies Sept. 20. “I have to tell you that I know you’re on the right journey towards leadership because my path to where I am right here actually began in 1987 at a student leadership conference in Lloydminster, Sask.”
Richard Hildebrand, Tisdale’s representative on the North East School Division, encouraged the students to talk with each other and hear about the successes and frustrations they’ve had while being involved on their student representative councils.
“I hope you leave here with ideas on how to make your SRC more democratic and more effective,” he said. “SRCs are not just a personal club of choice. They’re the experience in democracy that all of our provincial and national organizations use to function. You are very important, not only to your schools, but to our country’s organizations of the future.”
Fred Bradshaw, the MLA for Carrot River Valley, said it was great to see a bunch of young innovators.
“It’s about 10 per cent of the people that make things happen. You are the ones that are going to do it. You’re going to be the next leaders.”
Al Jellicoe, Tisdale’s mayor, encouraged the students to step outside of their comfort zones and tackle new ventures.
“The unknown can present many golden opportunities. As the future leaders of this province and country, go forth and take charge.”
Judy Rudd, a teacher and student advisor at Tisdale Middle & Secondary School, was also presented with a national award for her efforts towards supporting student leaders during the opening ceremonies.
The conference will continue Sept. 21 and 22.
For more details on the conference, check out Sept. 27’s edition of the Tisdale Recorder.
