(rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

broadening horizons and meeting role models

Grow Kids event returns in-person, students check out Human Library

May 17, 2023 | 4:39 PM

For the first time in-person since before the pandemic, Red Deer’s annual Grow Kids conference happened on Wednesday.

Grow Kids, formerly Grow Boys and Grow Girls, is an initiative which Grade 5 students from across Red Deer Catholic and Red Deer Public school divisions, have taken part in now for 12 years.

The events, which focus on staying active, as well as promoting and supporting healthy development, also encompasses the ideas of responsibility, respect, connection, relationship, movement, creativity and positive well-being.

The event took place at the renovated G.H. Dawe Centre.

“We are so excited that Grow Kids is back to an in-person event following a couple of years holding it virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Sean Grainger, Vice Principal at Joseph Welsh Elementary, and School and Wellness Coordinator with the division. “It is important that we continue to support the health and wellness of students.”

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One aspect of Grow Boys was the Human Library, hosted by the Dawe Branch of the Red Deer Public Library (RDPL).

The Human Library saw interesting Red Deerians and central Albertans act as human books, sharing their unique stories with students.

Human books included ‘The Journalist’, ‘The Highland Heavy’, ‘Over the Mountains & Across the Waters’, ‘The Farmer’, and ‘Starfleet Member’, among several others.

(rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

Tatiana Tilly, RDPL’s Strategic Planning and Community Engagement Manager, says the purpose of the Human Library is to broaden kids’ horizons and their ideas about life.

“The goal behind the Grow Kids conference is to show kids what’s out there for them, so they can keep exploring and finding something that enriches their life and is readily available in their community,” says Tilly.

“We know not all boys in Grade 5 are hardcore readers, but offering kids a chance to read a live person instead of an actual book gives them an opportunity to see the world around them and how open it is.”

Tilly adds that Grow Kids is also about helping kids use their curiosity to ask questions of the human book, as well as introducing them to role models.

More information is at reddeergrowboys.ca.