A youth-focused event will bring together more than 800 North Okanagan Grade 9 students for an exploration of careers in health care, with a special focus on mental health.
Championing Health Careers is an event being hosted by the Vernon School District and Okanagan College, sponsored by the Ministry of Education and Childcare. It aims to inspire the next generation of health care professionals at a time when more workers in the field are urgently needed.
The event takes place at Okanagan College's Vernon campus Thursday, June 12 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Keynote speaker Alex Boy茅 will offer a speech titled Your Life, Your Song at 12:50 p.m.
Boy茅 is an internationally acclaimed artist and mental health advocate known for using music and storytelling to address youth mental illness and reduce stigma.
A former member of the Tebernacle Choir and a finalist on America's Got Talent, Boy茅 is a recipient of the Didi Hirsch Erasing the Stigma Award and is an ambassador for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The college says his message has resonated with youth audiences, combining entertainment with a call to courage and connection.
With increasing shortages in the health care workforce in the Okanagan and beyond, the event will introduce students to the rewarding and essential careers that await them in the health sector.
