Child Witness of Waterloo

We held our 5th annual Child Witness Cenre Youth Symposium at Empire Studio in Kitchener on Thursday April 17, with 2,000 grade 8 students in attendance from public, catholic and independent schools in Waterloo Region and Wellington County.

The goal of the Symposium is to equip students with ideas, tools, motivation and confidence to cope effectively with their daily challenges, make better choices in their life, and to grow to become better citizens in our community.

1. Heads You Lose, Tails You Lose! Rob Simpson, CEO, Ontario Problem Gambling Research Centre… Students are surrounded with gambling information…in stores, on television and videos, on the Internet, and via parents and friends…and many are tempted or pressured to play. But how many know that gambling is designed to take money and possessions they can’t afford to lose? This session uses a slot machine animation and interactive exercises to show how gambling really works and how to avoid getting in over your head.

2. Take the Risk – Be STUpendous – Stu Saunders…A hilarious and inspirational look at the challenges that young people face on a daily basis, with real tools which students can use to make the right choices. Stu Saunders is one of Canada’s most experienced youth speakers. www.ylcc.com

This is an opportunity for students to see what happens during a trial in court. They’ll watch students

from a pre-selected class carry out a ‘mock trial’ based on a real case, with students playing the role of defence attorney, crown attorney, judge, juror, victim, witness, accused, court security, court reporter and court clerk. www.childwitness.com

4. Hero Inside - Ian Tyson…This session will help students overcome obstacles and personal tragedy, step outside their boundaries, balance their time, respect themselves and others, find a motivation in life, find the “Hero” in themselves, and MUCH MORE! Ian’s high-octane presentation will take students on a hilarious journey from childhood to high school and beyond, while also leaving them with words and thoughts to live by. www.ianyson.ca

5. Get Your Hand UP - Participate in Class, in School, in Life! – Andy Thibodeau…Ask Questions! Answer Questions! Try Your Best! Volunteer and get involved in school activities! Take advantage of your time in school to LEARN and have FUN! This powerful keynote will entertain and inspire students by encouraging them to bring back their grade three enthusiasm and "get your hand up". The overall moral of this message is to remind students to "take advantage of your time in school to both learn and have fun!" www.andypresentations.com

6. Cyber-stalking and Cyber-bullying – Eugene Silva, Waterloo Regional Police Services…For generations parents ingrained in their children: "Don't talk to strangers." That rule has new meaning now that people can talk to strangers all over the world via the internet. The scary thing is that many who talk and chat on the Internet think it's perfectly safe. But it's not. Kids are a prime target for "cyber-stalkers," who are waiting to feed off their insecurities and ultimately lure them away. This session is an internet alert for students.

7. Making a Positive Difference – Mike Pearse… Often students need encouragement to see just how simple it is to truly make a difference in thelives of others, in the life of their school and community, and in their own lives. It doesn't take much; it doesn't take long; BUT, the effects may be profound and everlasting. Through humour, dramatic story-telling, tangible, meaningful examples, AND a whole lot of play, Mike will prove to every participant in this workshop the ease and power of "Making a Positive Difference". www.tawingo.net

8. Beating the Pecking Order – DynaMike…We can all be a little bigger and do a little better when it comes to the way we treat each other. Mike uses humour, touching, anecdotes and poignant challenges to bring that truth to life for his audiences. People laugh a lot, some cry a little, everyone leaves feeling inspired, encouraged and informed on meaningful ways we can help each other out. www.dynamike.ca

9. Inter-A.C.T. with Integrity – Joel Hilchey…“It is through our interactions that we create our culture”. If you haven’t seen Joel perform before, now is the time! Through his humour and stories, Joel gives new insight to the common cliché “Think Global, Act Local”. Students will come away with a smile, a new perspective on leadership, and some fresh enthusiasm about the “choose-your-own-adventure” of life. Humans have an incredible power to affect each other, and it’s the little stuff that makes all the difference. Do you believe it? Joel does, and he can’t wait to tell students why…www.joelhilchey.com

10. Get Paid to Breathe! - Scott Hammell…The Guinness World Record Holding magician teaches his highly affective techniques for turning dreams into reality. Magic and message are fused together to deliver a high impact high energy show! www.PaidToBreathe.com

11. The Choices We Make – Pete Barbuto and Lee Fitzpatrick, Waterloo Regional Police Services… Today’s youth are making choices every day. Choices that impact the rest of their life; choices that are influenced by their peers, their family, television and movies and newspapers, and by role models. This session will help educate youth to make good choices when it comes to drugs.

12. The Deadly Truth: The Tobacco Industry Targets YOUth! - Y-ACT (Youth Acting for Change on Tobacco) and Toxik Peer Leaders, Region of Waterloo Public Health
Students will learn why their age group is the biggest target group for tobacco companies. Using fun games and prizes, youth peer leaders will teach students how to not to be tricked and inspire them to help create a smoke-free environment! For more information go to www.y-act.ca!

13. Ordinary to Extraordinary! – Monique Howat…How does anyone go from ordinary to extraordinary? That’s an idea that appeals to any of us. Students need to brace themselves for an interactive hour which could change their life. It’s an IMAX look for each student into how big his/her life can be! www.confidentgirlsguys.com

14. Become WHO U can Be - Philly D...while so much about education focuses on what students do with their life, this workshop challenged students to think about WHO they want to be as a person.

We extend our sincere thanks to K-W Sertoma, K-W La Sertoma and Twin City Sertoma for their generous support of the Symposium and for sharing our vision of the value of such an event for the youth in our community.

These organizations are part of Sertoma International and Sertoma Canada, one of the oldest civic service clubs in North America. It was founded in the U.S. in 1912, came to Canada in 1946, and now has over 35,000 members in more than 1000 clubs in Canada, the United States, Mexico and Switzerland. Sertoma promotes friendship and fellowship to create the opportunity for community service.

Sertoma has had a long association with the Child Witness Centre. In 1990 the local clubs formed a Foundation to purchase two homes for use by the Canadian Hearing Society and the Child Witness Centre. In 2005 the homes were sold to new owners and the Foundation is now using the resulting funds to continue to support special projects of the Canadian Hearing Society and the Child Witness Centre.

The local Sertoma clubs also support the Speed Skating Club, Synchronized Swim Club, Kitchener Non-Profit Housing Corporation, Christmas Miracle to help needy children, Elmira Sugar Kings and other projects to meet needs in the community.

Sertoma members deserve great credit for their hard work, generosity and community-mindedness.