What Happens When Over a Hundred Students Come Together to Talk About Identity, Truth, and What it Means to be Fully Seen?
You get the Student HEART Forum a day where courage, connection, and authenticity take centre stage. Now in its third year, the forum brings OCSB high school students together for open, honest conversations that matter. HEART stands for Humans Expressing Authenticity, Reality, and Truthfulness a name chosen by students to reflect a commitment to inclusivity across all identities.
This year's theme, Pride Without Borders: Growing, Learning, Belonging, challenged participants to think deeply about who they are and how they can grow by learning more about the world around them.
Rooted in Respect: Indigenous and Catholic Connections
The day began with a student-led prayer followed by a land acknowledgement, setting a tone of mindfulness and unity. Heather Godin from the OCSB Indigenous Education Team led a smudging ceremony alongside a student and shared powerful reflections on the longstanding presence and honour of Two-Spirit people in Indigenous communities. Heather also spoke about the meaningful connections between Indigenous and Catholic practices both grounded in reflection, respect, and spiritual intention. The smudging and prayer reminded everyone that while traditions may differ in form, they often guide us toward the same purpose: to listen, reflect, and care deeply for one another. Their shared drumming song echoed that message beautifully: you are seen, and you belong.
Symbols of Safety and Welcome
We were reminded of the symbolic gesture behind the Progress Pride flags displayed in our schools: visible signs that everyone, regardless of how they identify, is welcome, safe, and celebrated. And it was also emphasized that just flying the flag is not enough. It must be backed by daily actions, inclusive practices, and a shared responsibility to ensure every student feels seen, supported, and respected.
Keynote Message: "The Power Stays in Your Hands"
This year's keynote speaker, Karelle Sikapi, shared her personal story of identity and coming out, emphasizing that revealing one's truth is not an obligation it's a choice and a privilege. Her message resonated deeply: "The power stays in your hands."
Workshops that Sparked Learning and Belonging
Students participated in four breakout sessions Roots, Voices, Bridges, and Waves each offering unique ways to explore identity and culture:
- Creative Bouquets of Belonging explored self-expression through the symbolism of flowers in the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
- Bridges to Community focused on building supportive networks.
- Breaking Boundaries: Real Talk on Identity & Community opened up space for raw, honest dialogue.
- Pride Without Borders: Stories Across Cultures highlighted how experiences of being 2SLGBTQ+ vary across global contexts.
Many workshops sparked meaningful conversations about how culture can shape and sometimes challenge understandings of gender and identity.
Building a Brighter, Braver Future
The Student HEART Forum continues to grow as a space where young people lead the way in building a world that embraces every part of who we are.To learn more about how OCSB supports Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity, visit the OCSB Equity page.
