Over 200 students filled the Humboldt Curling Rink on Tuesday, as the Horizon School Division held its 4th Annual Student Day.

Designed to demonstrate leadership from those who have experienced it already in the world, the day was full of presentations from students, as well as Live Different. Codie Prevost also performed in the afternoon.

Kevin Garinger, Director of Education for the division says that involving the students in presenting is new to the event.

"Last year we started with students becoming involved in the presentations. This year the board decided to have students involved in a greater capacity," he noted. "Today, we had four different presentations from four of our schools. They did a fantastic job sharing the message about the opportunity they have in their schools to be leaders."

As for how they decide what the theme of Student Day should be, Garinger mentioned that they have a committee made up of trustees that goes over elements to focus on.

"We sit down and talk about what the theme should look like. Ultimately, student leadership is something that's critical. We want to continue to build that and it's one of our focuses in the Horizon School Division," he explained. "Giving students that opportunity to take leadership allows for that to really blossom in all of our schools."

Each school in the HSD allows a handful of students to attend the day, based on certain criteria, according to Garinger.

"We ask them to send students who have engaged in leadership opportunities at the school," he stated. "There's so many more that can be chosen in our schools. We want to continue to build that capacity around leadership."

Archerwill's own, country music recording artist Codie Prevost performed for an hour in the afternoon. He is an alumni of a HSD school, something that Garinger says brings extra significance to the day.

"Codie does a fantastic job of talking about his background and the fact that he was a student once in the Horizon School Division," explained Garinger. "It sends a real message to our students that we can achieve anything, anything we put our minds to."

"He provides that same message of hope, opportunity, of taking the risks you need to take to be successful in your life, and it resonates very well through music."

Students from LeRoy, Watrous, Englefeld and Annaheim made presentations during the day on pink day, mental health, forum for young Canadians, and SHAD, which focuses on leadership.

Along with having Prevost on hand, Garinger added that with students also presenting, it provides a same-age glimpse into the future.

"It sends a message to all these kids as well, just while they're in their high school years," he said. "We had 200 kids here engaged by kids around mental health awareness and doing something that sends a very clear message on how we engage and react to each other."

Garinger wanted to thank the entire school division for helping to align days like the Student Day, which goes a long way to empowering young adults.

"(Kids are) the most important resource we have, and to be able to support them in the way we have is tremendous."


You can hear more from Garinger below.