GFESS students reflect on attending Ontario leadership conference

Greater Fort Erie Secondary School (GFESS) students say the Ontario Student Leadership Conference (OSLC) shaped how they plan to lead at school this year.

The three day event ran from November 2 to 4 in Niagara Falls and brought out more than 2,000 students from across Ontario. GFESS sent 24 student leaders to the conference who attended workshops, keynote sessions and group activities aimed at building leadership skills.

Teacher Carrie Jackson told Fort Erie Radio the scale of the conference gave students a rare chance to meet peers from other regions and return with practical ideas for school events. Students also spent time talking about personal agency and how their choices influence the spaces they share at GFESS.

Student council prime ministers Linkyn Willick and Paige Henneberger helped prepare their GFESS group for the trip. Students raised money through Big Red and Lemayzzz Meats fundraisers and a Crumbl cookie sale to cover trip costs and conference clothing, which included shirts showing the GFESS gryphon in a superhero outfit.

“OSLC is always a highlight in our year and allows our council to create that special bond together that lasts the rest of the year,” said Willick in an email to Fort Erie Radio.

Jackson said students were especially moved by speaker Cara Filler and her message about resilience. The smaller breakout sessions allowed students to ask direct questions to presenters.

“I always leave OSLC feeling like a better leader than I was going into it,” said Henneberger by email.

The second night included a semi-formal dance held for all conference attendees.

“The dances get so hot because it’s a mosh pit of student council kids and you can feel the floor bouncing up and down with every jump, but it is always the highlight of the trip,” said Willick.

Willick has attended OSLC each year of high school and described a mix of excitement and fear among students but said the shared experience helped the group grow closer.

“OSLC has incredible speakers come to inspire youth all across Canada and I am beyond grateful that I was given the opportunity to have gone all four years of my high school life,” said Willick.

William Connor, elected District School Board of Niagara student trustee last month, was also present at the conference in his role representing the students of GFESS .

Students will now bring their ideas back to upcoming school events. According to Jackson, many returned with plans to adjust how GFESS councils approach major activities such as Relay for Life and with renewed interest in leading by example.

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