(Above: Best Buddies Labrador Straits Academy Chapter – Ryan French, Thomas Flynn, and Taylor Groves)

This past year, the Labrador Straits Academy (LSA) chapter of Best Buddies Canada (a national charitable organization that fosters friendships between students with and without intellectual disabilities and autism) received a $4,000 IGA Grant. This grant facilitated participation at the Best Buddies Canada Student Leadership and Development Conference on November 3, 2017.

This conference allowed students from across the country, including those from Labrador Straits Academy, to further develop their leadership, communication, and organizational skills. The experience no doubt benefited the educational, social, and cultural well-being of the participants involved.

Ms. Maisie Groves, teacher advisor of Best Buddies LSA, states that “Great things can happen when everyone’s heart is in the right place & they all work together for the common good!”

Ms. Groves and the team of Best Buddies extended a big thank you to The International Grenfell Association who helped to make their trip to Ottawa for the 22nd annual Student Leadership Conference a huge success and for believing in the Best Buddies mission. “This Conference with its focus on friendship and love inspired us all & made us proud to be part of something truly wonderful!”

The IGA was very pleased to support this initiative as it has identified youth leadership in its Strategic Plan as an area of support.

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Students from Labrador Straits Academy join those from across Ontario for a photo at the conference