BC Student Leadership Conference Inspires 400+ Participants
From October 24 to 27, Yale Secondary School was buzzing with energy as it welcomed over 400 students and educators for the annual BC Student Leadership Conference (BCSLC). With participants from 34 schools across British Columbia—and even one from Alberta—the event marked a remarkable gathering of future leaders, igniting conversations on personal growth, community impact, and leadership development.
Local Abbotsford schools, including Rick Hansen Secondary, Abbotsford Senior Secondary, Robert Bateman, W.J. Mouat, and Yale Secondary, were well represented among schools from all over the province. Community leaders, including Board of Education Chair Shirley Wilson and Trustees Stan Petersen and Rupi Kanda-Rajwan, as well as the City of Abbotsford Mayor Ross Siemens, joined the conference throughout the weekend. They witnessed first-hand the importance of developing young leaders and how events like BCSLC help students build lifelong skills that will benefit their communities.
Doug Primrose, a teacher at Yale Secondary and Co-Chair of the event, expressed pride in the students’ enthusiasm, dedication, and leadership. “It was inspiring to see over 400 students come together, eager to make a difference. Our students, who led the event, did an exceptional job; they showed so much heart and drive. It’s clear everyone who attended will be taking this experience back to their own communities,” he said.
The conference offered an exciting mix of keynote addresses and hands-on workshops designed to engage students on topics from resilience and creativity to effective communication and teamwork. These sessions provided students with tangible skills and insights to strengthen their leadership abilities and influence positive change in their schools and communities.
As the conference wrapped up on Sunday, students left with new friendships, a fresh sense of purpose, and ideas they could bring to their lives and school communities. Yale Secondary’s gym and classrooms were filled with energy, hope, and excitement for the future. Organizers, participants, and community leaders agreed: this year’s BCSLC was a true success, showcasing the extraordinary promise of young leaders across the province.
To get a glimpse into the conference experience, you can view the daily recap videos on YouTube:
