Rainbow Schools host Embrace Diversity: Free to Be Me on February 20th

Rainbow District School Board will host a half-day symposium aimed at creating and enhancing school-based supports for students in Grade 7 and 8 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, February 20, 2026 from 9:30 am to 1 pm at Lockerby Composite School.

During the event, students can participate in various workshops, including Be an Ally and Support your Peers with teacher Sabrina Briscoe; Beading and Belonging: Story of the Wampum Belt with Indigenous Support Worker Alicia Webber; Highschool 101 with teacher Vanessa Caddel and students from Lockerby Composite School; How to Handle Anxiety and Stress with social workers Matthew Riehl and Caelen Nadeau; Internet and Social Media Safety with Catrina Miller of the Greater Sudbury Police Service; and The Rainbow Alphabet: A Colourful Painting and Drawing Project with teacher Jason Stewart.

Rainbow District School Board thanked the organizing committee for its efforts, including Kristina Rivard Gobbo, Sandy MacEwan, Vanessa Caddel and Kim Yagnych.

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

A half-day symposium for students in Grades 9 to 12 will take place on Friday, March 27, 2026.

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Media Contact:

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