HDSB Student Leaders Connect and Learn at the Halton Youth Leadership Symposium
More than 80 Grade 7 and 8 students from across the Halton District School Board gathered at Viola Desmond Public School on May 28 for the annual Halton Youth Leadership Symposium (HYLS), an evening dedicated to developing leadership skills, fostering community and creating meaningful connections.
Organized by the HDSB Student Senate, this year's symposium centred around the theme Community and Connection, providing students with opportunities to learn from their peers, participate in interactive workshops and hear from inspiring speakers.
The event featured 10 student-led workshops on topics including public speaking, entrepreneurship and financial literacy, mental health in a digital world, inclusion, sustainable leadership, coding and artificial intelligence, career exploration and resilience. Participants also gained valuable insights into the transition to high school and explored ways to make a positive impact in their schools and communities.
A highlight of the evening was a keynote presentation from Superintendent of Education Claire Proteau, who spoke about the importance of knowing yourself as a leader and prioritizing wellness.
For Grace Shen, Co-Director of Operations for HYLS 2026 and a student leader with the HDSB Student Senate, the event showcased the power of bringing young leaders together.
"I truly believe HYLS itself is a platform for community and connection," says Grace. "It's not every day that a student can be in a room with nearly 100 like-minded students from across their school board, and seeing everyone gathered together reminded me how vast yet connected we all are. Students got countless opportunities to connect with each other, whether it be through interactive workshops or while enjoying delicious pizza."
Grace also recognized the staff volunteers at Viola Desmond Public School for helping create a welcoming environment for attendees.
"The staff volunteers at Viola Desmond Public School were extremely welcoming and were superstars when it came to fostering community and connection," says Grace. "I'd like to give a special shoutout to Ms. Carolyn Bowler, who was lovely to talk to and helped greatly with technology for the conference."
Throughout the evening, students were encouraged to explore new ideas, discover their strengths and develop leadership skills that will serve them both inside and outside the classroom.
"I hope these future leaders were inspired to adopt an open mindset," says Grace. "HYLS is about discovery, development and connection, and I hope students were able to realize new opportunities and interests."
Reflecting on the keynote address, Grace added, "I hope they can take away the importance of kindness, connection and community in leadership. Her speech was incredibly inspiring and taught us the role of authenticity and confident humility as a leader."
"Planning the Halton Youth Leadership Symposium has been an extremely rewarding experience, and it has absolutely shaped my understanding of what it means to be a leader," says Grace. "Managing more than 100 students of the HDSB Student Senate to create 10 unique workshops taught me how to effectively set deadlines and guide a passionate group of students."
She credits the experience with strengthening her leadership skills and reinforcing the importance of creating welcoming environments where everyone feels valued.
"In my leadership, I focused on building a culture where others felt their ideas mattered," says Grace. "I learned the importance of being involved as a leader and prioritized supporting team members to feel confident. Ultimately, as a leader, I'm always working to build an environment where others feel extremely comfortable and supported."
Looking back on her journey with HYLS, Grace describes this year's event as a full-circle moment.
"HYLS is extra special to me since I was actually an attendee back in 2021 when it was virtual," she says. "Getting to lead HYLS in person has truly been a full-circle moment for me. I am so grateful for the experience."
Through events like the Halton Youth Leadership Symposium, the HDSB Student Senate continues to empower students to develop leadership skills, build lasting connections and inspire positive change in their schools and communities.
