Make Your Mark Conference: Five passionate students from Golden Secondary School (GSS) recently represented Golden, B.C., at the Make Your Mark Conference, hosted by the Students Commission of Canada (SCC) from October 1–5 in Toronto, ON. The event brought together youth from across the country to explore pressing social issues and develop creative ways to share their insights with peers and policymakers.
The conference tackled a wide range of subjects, including building healthy relationships and understanding “roots in relationships”; Addressing intergenerational trauma; Exploring how the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) affect daily lives; Encouraging respectful conversations across differences; Recognizing cultural needs in the workplace; and understanding the health risks of digital use and misinformation.
Ganisha Gakhar, age 14, a Grade 9 student at GSS, said she enjoyed meeting new people and learning about the importance of healthy relationships. “I was really interested in discovering more about ‘roots in relationships’—it helped me understand how our connections shape who we are,” she said.
Sanara Austin, also 14 and in Grade 9, echoed that sentiment: “It’s nice to know about roots in relationships. It made me think about how we can build trust and support each other.”
The discussions helped build an understanding of personal and cultural backgrounds among youth and how that can strengthen connections and build empathy. Gakhar said the “roots in relationships” sessions helped her see the importance of communication, trust, and mutual respect in forming healthy bonds.
Jocelyn Gallant, Skills Development Coordinator with the SCC, accompanied the students to Toronto for the conference. She emphasized the importance of “share-back” time during the conference.
“It’s a moment when youth collaborate to create something tangible—whether it’s a podcast, a poster, or another form of media—to express what they’ve learned and what they want to change,” Gallant says.
This creative approach empowered students to turn ideas into action and ensured their voices were heard by decision-makers. Kinsley Lockhart, age 14, was one of the five participants; she says, “Golden, B.C., is a small town, and we don’t get that much of an opportunity to talk about things we care about. Everyone is interested in what we have to say at the conference.”
The students all say that being heard and listened to about things that matter to them is one of the most valuable and meaningful parts of the conference.
“I think it’s really, really important for people to get to say what they want and be heard. I wish everyone had that,” Kinsley says.
“Adding to what Kinsley says, more opportunities to share your story are important,” says Aspen Dascher, age 14.
“It helps to be heard, and nice to know you can talk about sharing things without being judged,” says Sanara Austin, age 14.
“Everyone’s opinion is super important. The more you know about people’s lives and their feelings, the better your decisions will be for a better society,” says Lockhart, explaining how important it is to raise your voice to people with the power to make changes for the better.
During the Make Your Mark Conference, students had the opportunity to spend meaningful time with Elders, including Elder Bernard, an Indigenous knowledge keeper whose presence brought depth and wisdom to the gathering. Gallant says, “The opening ceremony is always a special moment.”
“I loved spending time with the Elders and hearing their stories. It sets the tone for everything at the conference,” she said.
Among the many topics discussed was “gender generativity,” a concept that explores how individuals express and nurture gender identity across generations, and how cultural and societal influences shape those experiences.
The students stayed at Cedar Glen YMCA, a peaceful retreat that offered space for reflection and connection. For many, the experience was transformative.
“I think it’s really important for people to get to say what they want and be heard. I wish everyone had that,” said Kinsley.
All five students emphasized that being listened to—truly heard—was one of the most meaningful parts of the conference.
The students will share their experience at a special community event at the Golden Youth Centre in the coming weeks.
