Two speakers recently toured Northwest School Division schools, bringing inspiring and thought- provoking messages to both elementary and high school students.
Steve Harmer, a motivational magician from Calgary, brought his message on friendship to schools in Paradise Hill, Rapidview, Dorintosh, Loon Lake, St. Walburg, Glaslyn, Edam, Neilburg, Turtleford, Hillmond and Marsden.
"I use magic to capture the heart," said Harmer, "and when you have the heart, you also get the head, and that's where the message about the keys to friendship sticks."
His audience in Glaslyn was captivated from the start of the show, when the person introducing the magician promised the kids that 'he's going to 'make your teachers disappear!'
Five minutes later, when the roar of enthusiastic approval had finally died away, Harmer began talking about the secrets to finding and keeping friends, illustrating or beginning each point with magic tricks that were deftly and smoothly executed and which held his audience in rapt attention. Canes turned into scarves which turned into doves, 10 plates held aloft by nervous students were set to spinning simultaneously, minds were read and a velveteen rabbit named Stew was put to sleep and then plucked out of a bucket transformed magically to life.
Through it all the students, in their turn, learned to consider the feelings of others, to be a true friend, to be respectful and dependable and to have a great attitude.
"As an educator and former principal," said Harmer, " I know how important it is to support what the schools are doing."
Harmer has performed in over 2,500 schools over the past 11 years, offering a variety of motivational and life-changing shows for young people.
Kevin Brooks, a dynamic speaker who was able to make a direct and profound connection with his audiences, spoke to high school students in St. Walburg, Goodsoil, Loon Lake, Pierceland, Neilburg, Onion Lake, Paradise Hill, Glaslyn, Turtleford and Edam.
In his presentation Brooks told what it was like to wake up after a devastating car crash caused by intoxication, unable to walk. Speaking straightforwardly and honestly, he took his story beyond a cautionary tale about destructive decisions and the consequences of drinking and driving to a place of inspiration where his audience realized that they could also face up to life's challenges with confidence and strength.
"He was genuine," said Glaslyn principal Brian Goota. "When he was speaking to the kids he wasn't preaching - he was sharing his story. The kids really related to him because he talked about things that they've experienced in their lives, and he spoke to them as they would speak to one another. The kids liked it and enjoyed it, and they all said that they would like it if he came back."
The Paradise Home and School Association made all of the grant applications on behalf of the schools in the Northwest that facilitated bringing in both of these dynamic and positive speakers. As a result of these applications, funding for the tours through sponsorship programs from SGI and SaskTel, and especially through the Community Initiatives Fund was made available.
"SGI, SaskTel and the CIF have generously sponsored my tour," noted Brooks in his blog, "and a great lady named Bonnie Mills Midgley from Paradise Hill, Sask. organized 13 of my 19 talks. This support is so appreciated."
