The York Region District School Board is putting the finishing touches on its annual Quest Conference, a two-day educational event this week that brings together first-rate speakers and participants eager to add new tools to their learning box.
“This year we have some of our own teachers and board members presenting workshops all surrounding our theme of well-being and mental health, not only for students, but parents, communities and staff members,” said Monika Bent, event management specialist at York Region District School Board. “We’re looking at mental health and well-being through a broader lens.”
For the second year in a row, the York public board will host 700 to 800 guests each day of the Quest for Well-Being - Making Connections, Making Commitments conference with the goal of improving student achievement and well-being.
“Mental health and well-being is definitely one of our board focuses and it’s also important to extend that beyond the classroom so that our staff members are at a really good place of well-being so that they can support our students,” Bent added. “We need to look beyond what we think mental health and well-being may be and dig into what that means to everyone.”
This year’s event, Nov. 14 and 15 at the Sheraton Parkway North Convention Centre in Richmond Hill, will draw delegates from all school districts in Ontario, including community partners, leading workshops and learning about innovative programs related to the conference theme.
One of the keynote speakers who is generating excitement is well-known TedTalk speaker Neil Pasricha, best-selling author of The Book of Awesome. Pasricha’s talk will combine leading research about neuroscience with positive psychology that asks the question: Does great work lead to happiness or does happiness lead to great work?
Other keynote speakers include Kim Katrin Milan, cofounder of The People Project, and Dr. Jean Clinton, clinical professor, McMaster University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences.
The Quest for Well-Being – Making Connections, Making Commitments is not open to the public, but it is being live-streamed on its website both days, Thursday, Nov. 14 and Friday, Nov. 15.
To learn more about the extensive line-up of speakers, workshops, and youth participants selected to give Ted-style Talks, visit here
