It was a full house at Burnaby Central Secondary for the Social Justice Conference keynote, You Can Play. Students from around the district patiently waited in line to enter the one year-old theatre venue from which the quarterback from BC Lion’s football team would moderate the engaging panel on equality and discrimination in sports.

Workshops followed. It was the annual Social Justice conference in Burnaby School District – a joint effort between the Board and the Burnaby Teachers’ Association. And who could beat the line-up of presenters – most of which have been front and centre on the news, YouTube, or around the community at some point. Brigette DePape is notable for her continued campaigns around Canada, following her attention-getting action in the Senate of Canada – holding up the STOP HARPER sign. Wanda Mulholland of the Burnaby Task Force on Homelessness held her dynamic workshop illustrating the tough trade-offs for low-income people. Check Your Head explored immigration and illegal migration issues; another workshop aimed to raise awareness and understanding about the legacy of residential schools.

The Boom Booms are a local East Van music group and Peak performance 2011 runner ups. Their passion for music, travel, the environment and culture led them around the world including Brazil where they learned and raised awareness about the impact of the construction of the Belo Monte Dam. Upon their return, they realized that similar issues that effected the environment and indigenous rights were right in their backyard. The environment, sexual exploitation, and oppression were other important discussion topics.

The day closed with a loud and boisterous session as a closing performance: the local band called the Boom-Booms who were featuring Ta’kaiya Blaney played.  The Boom Booms are a local East Van music group and Peak performance 2011 runner ups. Their passion for music, travel, the environment and culture led them around the world including Brazil where they learned and raised awareness about the impact of the construction of the Belo Monte Dam. Upon their return, they realized that similar issues that effected the environment and indigenous rights were right in their backyard.

Here are some photos from the incredibly successful day.