Our 4th annual A.W.A.K.E. (Awareness With Anew Knowledge & Experience) youth drug awareness conference for grade 9 & 10 students is being held at Valleyview Alliance church, Newmarket on March 20th, 2014. We are grateful that Valleyview has allowed us to use thier amazing space as it accomodates all of our activities and workshops.

The goal is to provide:
Opportunities for youth to participate in activities that are fun, safe and would be healthy alternatives to using drugs
Information on the effects of drugs and alcohol misuse and opportunities to learn healthier lifestyle choices
Information on accessible resources for youth in York Region
Build rapport with adult role models such as police, teachers and youth counsellors within their community
Strengthen relationships between school board and community agencies, building capacity among youth and adults together
Leadership opportunities to youth who have faced adversity and help them develop confidence
Activities include:
Keynote presentation – with youth speakers sharing personal stories in overcoming their challenges with substance abuse and youth counsellors from Addiction Services for York Region on the effects of drugs
Other presentations – canine demo by police and accident prevention presentation with a vehicle that has been in a collision on display
Interactive Workshops – participants will have an opportunity to choose from a selection of workshops facilitated primarily by youth - Breakdance, Martial Arts, Bellydance, Graffitti, Jewellery-making, Poetry
Agency booths – where students can interact i.e. police with the impaired goggles, DriveWise and they have an opportunity to ask questions and receive information with other agency booths such as public health
Community Partners include:
York Regional Police, Addiction Services for York Region, Public Health, York Public and Catholic District School Boards

See attached flyer & our blog for info on last years event