Boys to learn life skills at mental health summit in Okotoks

The Orenda Society is hosting a day to empower boys. 

In partnership with Restorative Sports Therapy, the Foothills non-profit is presenting Move Your Mood Boys Mental Health Summit on Sunday, Sept. 24, a day-long session that will feature a number of prominent male mentors as keynote speakers. 

Orenda co-founder and executive director Jamie Conroy said the summit, which is geared to boys 10-17, will address many of the issues they face, from social media and self-worth to the pressures of school, sports and social situations. 

“It’s an opportunity to have real tangible conversations and then take away some key skills they’ll be able to integrate into their lives,” said Conroy. 

She said boys don’t often have opportunities to have those kinds of discussions, so the summit is intended to provide a forum where they feel comfortable talking about the expectations and challenges they encounter on an ongoing basis.  

“We think of resiliency, especially in boyhood and manhood, as pushing through, like putting your head down and just getting through it, doing what you need to do to get through,” said Conroy. 

“But ultimately, that's sort of a vicious cycle because if we just keep pushing everything down and keep moving forward without having the opportunity to unpack what happened or to talk about how we feel about something, it’s going to be hard.

"We need the opportunity to unpack it.” 

The keynote speakers come from diverse backgrounds, including an ex-Navy SEAL turned psychologist, football coach, former Olympian and award-winning actor. 

It’s the second summit the non-profit will host, having held its first one pre-pandemic that attracted about 45 boys, a turnout Conroy would like to better at this year's event. She’s hopeful parents, and their sons, will see the benefit in the skills being offered. 

“A lot of times there's a stereotype around these sorts of events that they’re just for kids who need more help,” Conroy said. “But ultimately, if you think about people who are successful, or boys or men who are successful in their lives, they're also integrating themselves into personal development and what it means to be a leader in their own life and how they can unpack things to be able to move forward.” 

The summit runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Meadow Ridge School in Okotoks. Registration, which includes lunch, snacks and swag courtesy of community partners, is $130. Attendees can register at orendasociety.ca.