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Sakewew school hosts Gender, Sexuality Alliance support barbecue, Terry Fox run

Sep 22, 2017 | 5:00 PM

Sakewew High School students showed a combined effort to support the Terry Fox Foundation this year.

Roughly 25 people including staff and teachers joined in a run and walk for the cause at 11 a.m. on Friday. 

After the event, the Gender and Sexuality Alliance group hosted its barbecue fundraiser to support the run and local LGBTQ community. 

Student Arianna Parker, a member of the GSA and a budding singer-songwriter, performed a few songs during the barbecue.

“The group does certain things to make this school safer for the LGBT community. It also helps to ensure the safety of LGBT members in the community as well,” she said. “There is definitely an increase in gay and transgender youth, so it’s important to have groups like the GSA to make their experience a little more comfortable.”

Vice-principal Robert Ernst said Sakewew’s gay-straight alliance group is “really important in our school.” 

He added one of the school’s teachers, Reid Stewart, helped start the GSA group more than 10 years ago.

“I will give credit to him. He is the driving force behind that, and in making our school an inclusive and respectful place,” Ernst said.

Terry Fox support

Teacher Damien Schmidt was involved in helping with the school’s Terry Fox Run and fundraiser Friday.

The four kilometre walk, jog and run was to Sobey’s in North Battleford and back. 

“On average, we collected donations of about $350,” Schmidt said. “Our students are willing to donate at least a loonie …. They feel like they have contributed, and it creates a sense of pride in them, and accomplishment.”

 

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

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