Red Deer teachers were so thrilled with the response to their recent Information Fair to help at-risk, marginalized and minority students that they’re going to do it again next year.
On Nov. 5, a few hundred teachers, parents and students came out to the Alberta Teachers’ Association Local 60’s first-ever fair at G.H. Dawe School. Fifty-two community groups from around Central Alberta set up tables to provide information.
“We wanted to do an information fair to expose teachers to as many programs as we could from across the area that could support them in the classroom,” said Patti Yackulic, chair of the Local 60’s Diversity, Equity and Human Rights Committee.
The committee was formed last spring and members didn’t anticipate such a huge response from both the school community and organizations.
“It took off on us very quickly. Everyone wanted to get involved.
“It was actually successful enough it is going to be a permanent event.”
Next year, it will held at Hunting Hills High School, where 75 to 100 organizations could set up.
Yackulic said Alberta Works, a provincial government employment program under Alberta Human Services, will also be working with the committee to help the event grow and provide some financial support.
Recently, the committee brought in Second Cup co-founder Frank O’Dea to speak to students enrolled in alternative school programs.
She said O’Dea was already in Red Deer speaking at the Festival of Trees’ business luncheon and he waived his fee for the students.
“He made a huge impact on the kids.”
szielinski@www.reddeeradvocate.com