Students participate in self-esteem building

More than 250 school children discovered the benefits of self-confidence through a diabetes prevention intiative in Timmins, Ont., Nov. 4.  
They made this discovery through workshops provided by Turtle Concepts and produced by Timmins Diabetes Expo. The one-day event was led by Turtle Concepts owner Dave Jones and held at the McIntyre Area.  
Turtle Concepts is a First Nation business that provides empowerment workshops for youth. Its founder and lead organizer is a member of Garden River First Nation – a community located just east of Sault Ste. Marie.
“It was a busy and exciting day for all of us,” said Peggy Claveau, chair of the Timmins Diabetes Expo. 
The students had a great time and had an opportunity to learn about healthy lifestyle, she added. 
“With diabetes approaching epidemic proportions we need our youth to make better choices.” 
Claveau is also the program manager of non-insured health benefits for Wabun Tribal Council Health Services.   
Jones presented his message through segments that included entertaining presentations, role-playing games, role models and an exercise period styled as the Turtle Concepts boot camp. The role models for the event included Turtle Concepts members Jamie Davey, Cody Syrette, Patrick Champagne and Darus Ramoutar. The Turtle Concepts role models also included Sierra Jones-McLeod and Sarah Gasparetto, both Grade 5 students from W. Earle Miller School in Timmins.  
“I am here today to provide a funky, fun and sweet message to these children,” Jones said. “It is OK to feel good about ourselves and to allow others around us to be who they are.”
He said these students all know what is right in terms of healthy eating and exercise. 
“My role today is to reinforce that knowledge in a fun way and to show them that when we feel good about ourselves, good things happen in our lives and we make healthy choices.”
Four area schools took part in the event including: W. Earle Miller School, Pinecrest Public School, St. Paul’s School and Mattagami First Nation’s Mary Jane Memorial Elementary School.   
Regina Harper, a French teacher at St. Paul’s School felt the event provided her students with an informative and entertaining workshop.  
“I really liked the way the daylong event was presented and handled by the organizers,” she said. “It provided a fun time for our children as well as  plenty of education and information on healthy eating, exercise and learning to feel good about ourselves.”
Students participated in an introductory session in the morning and then were split into two groups. 
The first group took part in a healthy eating and snacking workshop led by the Timmins Diabetes Expo organizing committee. The second group took part in a boot camp, which included physical exercise and a self-esteem workshop led by Jones.  
The Turtle Concepts boot camp was a fun series of role-playing games to get children to take part in physical activities.
“I had a lot of fun today and it was awesome,” said 12-year-old Dylan Lafleur. “I know that we have to learn to take care of ourselves in many ways.”
 The Grade 6 St. Paul student added: “It was also fun to meet other students and make new friends.”