The future of wellness in Bluewater schools is being shaped by the students themselves.
Last week, about 100 students from all nine Bluewater District School Board (BWDSB) secondary schools gathered at the board’s Education Centre in Chesley for the annual Youth Wellness Champions launch and training day.
The event brought together teams of up to ten students from each school, along with staff leads, to brainstorm and develop wellness strategies to take back to their peers. Their focus was boosting health and well-being, breaking down stigma around mental illness, and tackling substance use and misuse.
The provincial Youth Wellness Champions program has been running locally for several years, supported by Grey Bruce Public Health, the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, and School Mental Health Ontario.
BWDSB Clinical Manager Katie Simpson said the goal is to put students in the driver’s seat.
“By giving students the tools they need to lead, the student voice is amplified to help inform school and board decisions,” she explained.
Workshops covered a range of topics, including art, healthy relationships, and substance-use awareness. Students also took part in presentations, group discussions, and even got some stress relief time with St. John Ambulance therapy dogs.
For many participants, the day sparked fresh ideas. Georgian Bay Community School student Kali Gallagher, a returning champion, shifted her focus from art-based calmness activities last year to tackling peer pressure through healthy relationship workshops this time around.
First-time participant Paige Johnson, from Grey Highlands Secondary School, said her group is looking at ways to share mental health tips, host activities that promote healthy living, and use existing traditions like tractor day to highlight wellness. Her school has chosen to rebrand their group as a “Youth Wellness Team” to feel more approachable and inclusive.
At Bruce Peninsula District School, student Austin Kerton-Moir is planning to bring new awareness initiatives about vaping and nicotine addiction to classmates.
Public Health Nurse Kristi McCracken of Grey Bruce Public Health said the energy from students was contagious.
“The energy in the room was incredible! Youth Wellness Champions are provided with an opportunity to create youth-led wellness initiatives for their schools," McCracken revealed. "The students always feel a lot of pride in the initiatives they organize throughout the school year. The school community is like a second home for students, and many of the events planned by Champions will help their peers feel like they belong at school and help them understand more about mental health and wellness resources available to them.”
From bracelet-making campaigns to karaoke events, previous projects have already left their mark. This year’s new group of wellness leaders is set to build on that momentum, helping schools across the region become healthier, more inclusive communities
