May 9: Rainbow Schools host Embrace Diversity: Free to Be Me Conference

Rainbow District School Board will host a half-day symposium aimed at creating and enhancing school-based support for students in Grades 9 to 12 who are two-spirited, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and intersex (2SLGBTQI+) as well as students with friends and family members in these communities. Since its inception in 2009, the event has expanded to include poverty, race, culture and disabilities.

The conference will take place on Friday, May 9, 2025 from 9:30 am to 1 pm at Lockerby Composite School.

During the event, students can participate in various workshops, including Creating Safe Spaces in Schools with Daniela Hunter, Jeanine Piché and Tiffany Gagan; Circle of Love: Storytelling to Create Inclusive Spaces with Sabrina Briscoe; Watercolour Rainbow Painting Workshop with Jason Stewart; Growth Mindset with Sarah Clarke, Calen Nadeau and Charlaine Green; and Voices for Change: Creating Youth Storytellers with Mackenzie Marshall.

Rainbow District School Board praised the organizing committee for its efforts, including Patrick Hopkin, Cori Pitre, Kristina Rivard Gobbo, Sandy MacEwan, Vanessa Caddel and Kim Yagnych.

Free to Be Me Conference
Friday, May 9, 2025
Agenda

9:30 am to 10 am – Arrival
10 am to 10:45 am – Welcome and Icebreaker
10:45 am to 11:30 am – Workshop 1
11:30 am to 12:15 pm – Lunch
12:15 pm to 1 pm – Workshop 2
1 pm – Departure

Lockerby Composite School is located at 1391 Ramsey View Court in Sudbury.

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Media Contact:

Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor
Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning
Rainbow District School Board, 705-674-3171 ext. 7217