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When Anara Morrison remembers her time at this year鈥檚 Canadian Student Leadership Conference (CSLC), she thinks about the indescribable energy. She thinks about sitting in a crowd of hundreds that exploded with cheers and chants at a moment鈥檚 notice. She thinks about meeting strangers and forging strong bonds. She thinks about intangible feelings that are hard to put to words.

鈥淸There was this] overall vibe and energy,鈥� she said.

Laura Gillis, who also attended the conference, wants to bring that energy back to Yorkton Regional High School.

鈥淭he number one thing I鈥檓 bringing back [to YRHS] is the conference spirit,鈥� she said.

Gillis, Morrison, and more than 40 Good Spirit School Division students participated in the 34th annual CSLC in Edmonton last month, taking time to meet people from across Canada and learn how to change their communities.

CSLC started in Yorkton over 30 years ago. YRHS was invited to host a provincial student conference in 1985. Grant Devine led the charge in turning the event into a national conference. Yorkton hosted the first CSLC with the theme of 鈥淵outh of Today - Leaders of Tomorrow.鈥�

CSLC has evolved in its 30-plus years, visiting every province for a variety of conferences and themes. CSLC focuses on inspiring youth leadership through workshops, guest speakers, and group activities. Gillis and Morrison鈥檚 group explored the mountains in Alberta as a pre-conference event.

鈥淲e got to see Banff and Jasper,鈥� Gillis said. 鈥淲e had fun as a group.鈥�

When the conference started, Gillis and Morrison, both wearing iconic YRHS orange cowboy hats, plunged into the big crowds, eager to meet new people.

鈥淥n the first day you get to know everyone,鈥� Gillis said. 鈥淵ou bond with kids from the other end of the country.

鈥淵ou feel like you鈥檙e one collective group.鈥�

鈥淵ou grow a close connection with them,鈥� Morrison said.

The Yorkton team traveled around Edmonton to learn from speakers and workshops. Morrison鈥檚 conversations with people from across Canada opened her mind to new ideas.

鈥淸People] change your perspective on problems in your life,鈥� she said.

Now the team is back in Yorkton and they鈥檙e preparing for their own conference. CSLC is returning to Yorkton in 2020 for the first time in over 25 years. Lana Stanek-Sebastian, a YRHS teacher who鈥檚 helping plan the conference, is pleased to see it return to Yorkton.

鈥淚t鈥檚 really amazing that it鈥檚 continued to grow over the years and that we鈥檙e getting it back,鈥� she said.

Morrison and Gillis are helping with the planning process. They鈥檙e excited to put their own spin on the conference. Stanek-Sebastian hopes the conference can expose Canadian students to Saskatchewan鈥檚 natural wonders.

鈥淸Many] people...haven鈥檛 seen flat-out prairies,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here is a beauty to that part of Saskatchewan.

鈥淸We鈥檙e] capitalizing on the things that are unique to our area.鈥�

Gillis and Morrison want Yorkton鈥檚 CSLC to be just as good as the Edmonton edition.

鈥淚t was hands-down the most amazing experience of my life,鈥� Morrison said.