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17 · Friday, February 5, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com Aiming to get students involved By Bismah Haq GR. 12, IROQUOIS RIDGE H.S. s 2010 rolls in, Iroquois Ridge High School gets ready to host its second annual leadership conference. Organized by the Student Voice Committee at our school, the Get Hooked! Conference will take place on Feb. 24. All Halton high schools and Grade 8 students are invited and the organizers expect about 400 students to be in attendance. By inspiring and opening the eyes of students who were fearful, confused or indifferent about joining the active student network, the conference will ultimately offer a multitude of ways towards positively impacting the school, community and a student's own life. The purpose of the conference is to provide students with various methods to become a more active member of their school and community. A few methods to be showcased include joining a club of their interest, expressing their voice artistically or musically, educating others on our community and the world, becoming adept at A expressing ideas and opinions and volunteering. By the end of the day, the organizers of the conference hope that students will learn there is no specific way to become an active member of a community -- that one can become more involved in their community in many ways. The conference will be divided into three main topics: The Big Picture (Global Involvement), Get in the Zone (Athletics and Competition), Design Your World (Artistic Passions) with three workshops set up under each category. These three categories represent some of the main ways students can become more involved in the community and in their school. The day will begin with an opening address by keynote speaker Susan Hay. The veteran news journalist with Global News for more than 20 years, is a spokesperson for Toronto's Ronald McDonald House, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada, REACH for the Rainbow and the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario. Afterward, students will get to attend the three workshops they have chosen for the day. Workshop leaders include Iroquois Ridge High School graduate, Rukshan De Silva, Amnesty International Oakville, IRHS Eco Schools, IRHS Debate Team and competitive dancer Lady Noyz. Also hosting workshops will be Elyse Simpson, Oakville musician and music business specialist and Brian Nugent, a professional football player, actor and spokesperson for the Mike `Pinball' Clemons Foundation and Esteem Canada. Nugent will also be concluding the conference at the closing assembly. The cost of the conference is $12 and all registration forms must be submitted, with payment, by Feb. 5 to Kathryn Patterson at Iroquois Ridge High School. A light snack will be provided during the break. All profits from the conference will be going towards helping the people of Haiti recover from the recent earthquake. If you have any questions/comments/concerns, contact Kathryn Patterson at Iroquois Ridge High School at pattersonka@hdsb.ca. Fabulous February downtown There will be opportunity to fall in love with Downtown Oakville at the Fabulous February Festival Feb. 6-28, The month's events start on Saturday, Feb. 6 and 13, with the Art in the Heart: The Gallery Taste and Tour, where participating downtown galleries open their doors to a tasting exhibition. Art in the Heart: Shop with Your Senses is a new event created to celebrate Valentine's Day and the Family Day weekend at the same time. From Feb. 12-14, downtown boutiques are offering up a show of artists, performances, music, in-store events and special promotions on the street and at participating businesses. Wrapping up the Family Day weekend is A Taste of Downtown Oakville, the twice-annual culinary showcase. From Feb. 15-28, various restaurants are offering special prix fixe menus. For locations, participating businesses and start times for events, contact the Downtown Oakville BIA at 905844-4520. The Regional Municipality of Halton www.halton.ca Electronics, Tires, Household Hazardous Waste Electronics (computers, printers, and televisions, etc.), household hazardous waste (paint, batteries, antifreeze, propane tanks and car oil), and used Electronics and household hazardous waste can also be dropped off at Halton locations will be announced later this spring. Visit www.halton.ca/waste for more information. Visit www.dowhatyoucan.ca household hazardous waste. Visit www.ontariots.ca apply. 050210 Please let us know as soon as possible if you will have an accessibility or accommodation need at a Halton Region hosted event or meeting. 1151 Bronte Road, Oakville, Onta