| Beat the Streets | Wrestle 4 Fun | Students learn fundamentals from top-level Canadian wrestlers in this character-building and life skills workshop through the sport of wrestling. Virtual workshops are based on the Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) model and designed to introduce wrestling and drills to improve movement skills, agility, balance and coordination while providing no-contact delivery. For older students, workshops build positive character traits, coping strategies, building positive self-image and personal resiliency while providing a constructive and safe way to redirect energy through sport. Students learn time management, respecting others, friendly competition, rules and guidelines through the introduction to wrestling that all transfer to the classroom. Professional learning and certification are available to staff. Serving: Grades 1 - 12; staff |
| Ashley Seaman | Y.A.Y Improv for Wellness & Belonging | This workshop uses improv to practice empathetic communication, collaboration and mindfulness for students to achieve a greater sense of belonging and joy. Students learn meaningful tools in interacting and communicating with others as well as being in a safe spaces to take creative risks, explore spontaneity and embrace the unexpected all while having fun. Through play, games and exercises, students collaboratively create character, story, comedy and joyful connection with their peers. Through a workshop series, schools may work toward building a showcase to perform in front of an audience. Suitable: Grades 3-12 |
| Youth Alliance for Intersectional Justice | YAIJ's Afrocentric Accessibility Program | This 5-part series of learning circles (education sessions) is for teachers who teach students who utilize an IEP with a focus on anti-racist and anti-ableist (ie anti-Black ableism). This series will introduce staff to intersectional approaches to neurodiversity, and culturally grounded perspectives of dis/ability to better support Black students in Special Education. Workshops are also available for students that include Arts-based Self-Care, Neurodiversity and Me (self-advocacy at school); Augmented Allyship (resources, tech, people, strategies); Navigating Black Disability Futures (social networking, supportive discussions about the possibilities after high school). Suitable: Grades 9-12; Staff
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| Jeff A.D. Martin | You Are Worth It | Empowerment assembly and leadership workshops targeted to building up and fostering character development among students. Presentation reinforces the following three points: turning your adversities into your advantages, believing in yourself, the power of self-affirmation. Jeff. A.D. Martin grew up in an underserved neighbourhood within Toronto, facing many disadvantages and can relate to the various struggles that students continue to face today. He shares his own personal stories, which includes loss through violence and also from his fifteen years in law enforcement within various detective roles. Workshops help students to step through their fears and build important life skills to find their life's passion. Suitable: Grades 4-12 |
| The National Ballet of Canada | YOU Dance | Led by teaching artists from The National Ballet of Canada, this program introduces students to the theatrical art of ballet and consists of two offerings, in-theatre performances with workshop (Grades 4-7) and in-school performance (Grades 1-6). The in-theatre performances feature five specially selected pieces danced by the National Ballet’s apprentices and accompanied by a pianist. Also included is an in-school workshop 45 minutes in length where students actively engage in movement techniques to develop their creative expression, learn a variety of dance styles, and repertoire while providing a learning experience for the teacher. The second offering is in-school performances named YOU Dance In-School Performances demystify the professional ballet world through a short performance with the National Ballet's apprentices, accompanied by a pianist, a host and a behind-the-scenes crew. Through an interactive discussion, students learn about The National Ballet of Canada, pointe shoes, partnering, ballet mime, and theatrical makeup. Students not only hear from artists who discuss their roles/jobs but also learn what it takes to produce a ballet. Limited availability.
The YOU dance performance is live streamed once a year to any school. |
| Story Planet | Young Writers | Led by professional writers and artists, Story Planet workshops provide students the opportunity to develop their skills in creative expression and literacy through story creation across a variety of media, including writing, illustration, and digital media. Fun, interactive programs immerse students in the creative process as they work in groups and independently to write and share stories. Most programs result in a printed book or e-book of their work. Students can also work towards content for our podcast including creating songs, stories, poems, and interviews. A bi-annual anthology of selected work from students can be published according to the themes of each book. Serving: Grades 1 - 8; Professional Learning for Staff
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| Green Hope Foundation | Youth Education through Environmental Education | Students are made aware of real world issues regarding sustainable development in these free assembly/workshops that blend art, music, dance, drama, and science while creating and achieving sustainability goals. Students learn about and discuss the impacts of climate change and ways to mitigate it, the importance of clean energy moving forward into the future, the need for biodiversity conservation, and ways we can adopt a model of sustainable consumption of earth's resources. Classroom learning is also complemented with outdoor local activities such as waste cleanups and waste segregation in order to demonstrate to students how to put 'words into action', learning that transcends classroom walls and school yards. Serves: All Students |
| Veritus Pictures Inc. | Youth Filmmakers Academy | Workshops in-person or through video-conferencing provide authentic expression of student voice through filmmaking. This team-based approach provides students with skills, technique and tips on a variety of filmmaking elements including camera work, audio recording, video production, and editing. For schools looking for a more in depth exploration of filmmaking, James Buffin offers a five day program to take students from concept to completion for documentary or dramatic projects. Suitable: Kindergarten, Grades 1-12 |
| YMCA of Greater Toronto | Youth Gambling Awareness Program | These workshops seek to raise awareness of youth gambling, online gaming, addiction and mental health. Facilitators highlight the difference between playing games and gambling, risks involved in gambling, harm reduction strategies, how to stay safe and make informed healthy decisions. Sessions encourage youth to explore a variety of gambling topics including: What's At Stake?, Play It Safe, Betting Sense; Game-Bling: When Gaming Meets Gambling; Media Impact; Stigma & Gambling. Delivered in French. Suitable: Grades 4-12 |
| Covenant House Toronto | Youth Homelessness Awareness and Prevention | Presentations raise awareness about youth homelessness and prevention; youth leadership and social responsibility on the issue; resources and community supports. Two presentations are available for student audiences: "Before You Run" covers a broad range of issues and circumstances that lead youth to the street. It discusses how the experiences of family breakdown, abuse, mental health, bullying, drugs, exploitation and stress can act as contributing factors to youth homelessness. "Reality Check" de-glamourizes street life and discusses the struggle homeless youth face; how they’re driven to steal, sell drugs or worse. Presentations also have students participate in an activity that highlights the hardship youth face while trying to live independently, without family support, education or career; and what their school community can do to engage with community supports. Serving: Grades 6 - 12 |
| YMCA of Greater Toronto | Youth Opioid Awareness Program | Presentation on opioids, use and its effects to the school community. Topics covered include introduction to opioids, addiction and opioid use disorder, how to help someone with an addiction, naloxone, and toxic drugs. Students hear about the stigma and learn how to implement changes to reduce stigma in society. The presentation also addresses protective factors and coping mechanisms that will minimize the risk of developing a substance use disorder and ways to get help. Suitable: Grades 9-12 |
| Ontario Association of Former Parliamentarians | Youth Outreach Project for Civic Engagement | Former Parliamentarians share their knowledge and experience on Parliamentary Democracy and civic engagement to secondary students. The presentation
shares Ontario Parliament functions, roles and responsibilities, parliamentary system of government, political process, civic engagement, political environment as well as
personal experiences and anecdotes and life on the job. The aim of the work is to engage students in the democratic, political process with the hope of building civic
participation amongst youth. Sessions concludes with a question and answer, class discussion and activities on civic engagement. Schools may request a specific speaker
that has a particular focus ie business, gender, disability rights. Serving: Grades 9-12
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| Lumenus Community Services | Youth Outreach Workers (YOW) | This program provides outreach and support for referred youth who are identified as being at risk and may also present with a dual diagnosis or developmental disability, and/or identify as LGBTQ. It connects these youth with community resources to meet their immediate needs (such as employment, health, housing, recreation). Youth Outreach Workers are also available for presentations in secondary schools to increase all students' understanding of mental health and the local school community's engagement in issues of equity and social inclusion. The YOW can also assist the young person’s support network (home, school, peers) to access necessary resources to help them best support the youth. Serving: Referred students, Grades 9-12
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| Yorktown Family Serivices | Youth Outreach Workers (YOW) in Schools | This program provides outreach and support for referred youth with high risk factors from equity deserving communities. It connects these youth with community resources to meet their immediate needs such as employment, health, housing, and recreation. Youth Outreach Workers are also available for presentations in secondary schools to increase all students' understanding of mental health and the local school community's engagement in issues of equity and social inclusion. If presentations are delivered, it will be reviewed with TDSB PSS staff. The YOW can also assist the young person's support network (home, school, peers) to access necessary resources to help them best support the youth. Serving: Gr. 7-12 students referred by Professional Support Services |
| Empowerment Programs | Youth Skills for Life | Workshops offer practical tools to empower vulnerable/BIPOC youth with the skills to increase self awareness, self confidence and self-esteem. Facilitated by Suzanne Dunbar a Black female, these interactive sessions delivered in-person or virtually offer healthy problem-solving skills, strategies on changing negative thought patterns and reactive behaviours, and tools to navigate life’s challenges from a space of autonomy and self-reflection. Sessions use guiding questions to engage students, especially Black students, to develop a positive self-perception as they grow in their lives. Workshops include mindfulness, meditation, and yoga. Suitable: Grades 6 to 12; Staff |
| Youth Wellness Network | Youth Wellness Leaders | Programming in a school begins with an assembly, and then follows-up with workshop sessions for selected student leaders or classes in grades 5-12. Students’ mental health and well-being is enhanced through learning and sharing in a six module training that includes deepening students' understanding of mindfulness, self-esteem, emotional intelligence, conscious choice making, leadership, taking action: goal-setting. Each session focuses on developing daily practices and strategies that can boost self-esteem and confidence as well-being leaders. With sessions on How to Become Your Own Best Friend, and The Power of Your Choice, student wellness leaders gain knowledge and skills on how to create and sustain a culture of wellness in their school. Professional learning presentations, and parent workshops are also available for staff teams or parent councils. Suitable: Grades 5-12; staff; parents |
| YouthSpeak Charity | YouthSpeak Presentations | Trained youth speakers share their personal stories, experiences of struggle and their journey toward improved wellness. The stories are real, engaging, inspirational and relatable. Presentations build empathy and inclusion, deliver messages of perseverance and encourage students to use their voice and ask for help when needed. 'Stepping Up to Leadership' workshops are available to follow-up from assemblies. They highlight the four pillars to developing youth leadership: honesty, inclusivity, drive and compassion. Themes include: bullying, mental health, well-being, discrimination, anti-homophobia. Suitable: Grades 5-12 |
