The first year for an event aiming to empower young women between the ages of 12 and 18 had a successful kickoff.
Read more: Today’s Woman: On the pulse of a community
The WLS Convention Centre at the Lloyd Ex was filled on May 10 as speakers took to the stage aiming to educate young women on a variety of topics.
“Youth especially are the most impacted by these events,” said Jess Tetu, Elevate’s keynote speaker and owner of five Just For You Day Spas in Saskatchewan and Alberta.
The event, put on by Umbrella Marketing and Design, featured an array of speakers.
“We have amazing panelists that we have handpicked to be a part of our day to share their everyday struggles and journeys,” said Ashley Miazga, co-organizer.
Speakers ranged from a mental health advocate, nutritionist, a coach, life skills, dietician and a constable from the RCMP.
Tetu, the keynote speaker, has travelled telling her story.
“I travel all over Canada and North America talking about my success through adversity,” she said.
She said she grew up in a home with addictions and domestic abuse spending time in women’s shelters.
“Then became a single mom and all the things stacked again me, pulling myself out of that direction,” said Tetu. “(I) started working in a business, bought the business, then found success through that business by giving back to philanthropic efforts.”
She spent time going back to shelters, doing community support for domestic abuse victims.
She said the youth are at an age where things can be difficult.
“I know those years are really hard,” she said. “Those are really difficult ages, you think that that’s what your life is going to be like, when in fact, you have your whole life ahead of you.”
Tetu aims to inspire women and give them hope for the future.
“I always think if I could reach that little Jess that’s in that crowd, like me when I was that age, what it would have done to show me there is hope,” she said.
The future for the event looks bright.
“We would love to do this again,” said Miazga. “We don’t want to just make it a day. We are making a movement.”
“I think it’s just the beginning of an incredible future for this event,” said Tetu.
Read more: Elevate with Umbrella Marketing
