(Supplied/Laura Lawrence)

By Cam Lee

Youth Symposium

Saskatchewan Youth Symposium coming to Melfort Oct. 23

Oct 17, 2025 | 10:31 AM

Students from across Saskatchewan will gather in Melfort next week for the 5th annual Youth Symposium.

The event is organized by Youth Matter Canada, and founder Laura Lawrence told northeastNOW hundreds will be at the Kerry Vickar Centre Oct. 23 for a full day of connection and conversation for mental health.

“It started as an idea amongst a couple of our team members way back in 2019, where we just wanted to create an event for kids that was kind of like a conference, sort of like a professional development conference,” Lawrence explained.

She said a great volunteer base and strong support from businesses helped make the event a reality.

The focus of this year’s symposium is on kindness and courage, encouraging kids to make healthy decisions, and develop healthy coping mechanisms for dealing with stress.

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The keynote speakers for the event include Kyla Thomson, who along with her daughter Bella Brave, had a massive following on TikTok. Subscribers to their channel followed along with Bella’s medical challenges and her courage and positive attitude despite those challenges. Sadly, Bella passed away in 2024 at the age of 10.

Another speaker is Martin Lockett, who will address the crowd from Oregon. He spent 17 years in prison for double DUI manslaughter and now shares his story of accountability and redemption.

Lawrence said the event will also feature workshops throughout the day that will incorporate Indigenous culture, music, and dance. There will also be local performers from the Melfort Dance Centre, along with powwow dancing from an Indigenous youth.

“We have some local youth that will be speaking at the event, sharing their lived experience, so it’s really going to be a fantastic day for all the youth,” Lawrence said.

Fifteen schools from across Saskatchewan will be attending the event, including schools in Melfort and elsewhere in the North East School Division.

Lawrence expressed her gratitude for the event’s major sponsors, including Ripley Ford, Saskatchewan Blue Cross, Affinity Credit Union, Love My Mind, and SIGA.

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cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com