GALLERY: Sault College event focused on kids enjoyed by hundreds

Third-year students in the Child and Youth Care (CYC) program at Sault College brought together hundreds of kids and their caregivers at the school this afternoon for the 24th annual WALK (We All Love Kids) event.

The free family fun day featured a number of games and activities, including a fish pond, arts and crafts tables, face painting, dress-up, karaoke, and raffle prizes.

Attendees even had the chance to meet Chase from Paw Patrol and Wonder Woman, while a pair of therapy dogs and a friendly member of the OPP’s K9 unit were on-site as well.

As part of their curriculum, CYC students Dara Leis and Jordyn Shepley are two of eight soon-to-be graduates who took a community development class this semester that primarily focuses on organizing and overseeing WALK.

Proceeds from the event will support children’s grief and bereavement programming at ARCH Hospice.

“They’re such a large part of our community,” Shepley said. “There are so many benefits to having that kind of resource here in town, especially right now.”

“Running an event like this is the core of what we do,” Leis added. “It’s a really good learning opportunity for us, and I’m really glad we were able to plan an event like this.”

After they graduate this spring, both Leis and Shepley will be heading to Algoma University to attain their bachelor’s in social work.

With a CYC diploma, they'll be able to complete the four-year bachelor’s program at Algoma in just two years.

This diploma to degree pathway was signed into agreement in February of last year.