Thrive Student Leaders 2025: Student Voice and Leadership in Action

The annual Thrive Student Leaders event held, for the second year in a row, at Ridley College on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, was an energizing and impactful day for student leaders from across the CIS Ontario  community. With more than 180 enthusiastic students in attendance, the event once again demonstrated the power of student voice, collaboration, and leadership.

Student-Led Workshops: Collaboration in Action

A cornerstone of Thrive Student Leaders continues to be its dynamic, student-led workshops. This year, inter-school teams worked collaboratively to design and deliver a diverse and engaging programme of sessions. Students selected two workshops—one in the morning and one in the afternoon—from a wide range of topics, including building confidence as a leader, cultivating school spirit, leadership through sports, student wellness, and creating belonging through DEI and outreach.

These sessions provided meaningful opportunities for peer-to-peer learning, equipping participants with practical strategies and fresh perspectives to bring back to their school communities.

The Parade of Ideas: Showcasing School Initiatives

Returning in 2025, the Parade of Ideas once again highlighted the creativity and initiative of students across the network. Participating schools shared impactful programmes and activities aligned with student leadership and community engagement, each presenting their ideas in concise, high-energy formats.

This segment of the day celebrated innovation and offered inspiration for schools looking to enhance student life and strengthen community connections.

A Day of Connection and Growth

Thrive Student Leaders 2025 provided a valuable platform for students to connect, collaborate, and grow as leaders. Through shared experiences and open dialogue, participants built new relationships, exchanged ideas, and deepened their understanding of effective leadership within their school communities.

The energy and enthusiasm throughout the day reflected a strong commitment to student leadership across CIS Ontario schools and reinforced the importance of creating spaces where student voices can lead.

Supporting the Work: Student Presenter Training Day

In preparation for the event, student leaders from seven schools gathered at Appleby College on Friday, October 17, 2025, for the Student Presenter Training Day. This collaborative planning session focused on workshop development, problem-solving, and presentation design, ensuring that student presenters were well-prepared to lead their sessions at Thrive.

CIS Ontario extends its sincere thanks to Appleby College for hosting this important day and to the organizing committee for their dedication in supporting a meaningful and engaging experience for all participants.

Special Thanks

The success of Thrive Student Leaders 2025 was made possible through the collective efforts of student presenters, faculty advisors, and participating schools. CIS Ontario extends sincere appreciation to Ridley College for hosting this year’s event, and to all those who contributed their time, expertise, and enthusiasm to make the day a success.