Whistler Children’s Festival: Working Our Emotion Muscles

How often are we told that “being emotional” is a sign of weakness? In reality, being vulnerable enough to express our whole range of emotions takes strength and courage. In this way, being emotional is an exercise and the more we practice, the stronger we get.

This workshop uses theatre games and fun activities to help build emotional strength, resiliency and endurance. Participants will explore what emotions are, develop a better understanding of the importance of expressing feelings, and learn skills for setting boundaries and being accountable.

This workshop is for young people ages 7 to 10 of all abilities and identities.

Registration is required! Email publicservices@whistlerlibrary.ca to sign up – please include your child’s age and whether they want to participate on Saturday, May 17 OR Sunday, May 18. We have a limited number of spaces available for caregivers who wish to attend with their child. Please let us know if you’re interested in one of these spots.

These workshops are presented as part of the 2025 Whistler Children’s Festival, in partnership with Arts Whistler!

About the facilitators:

Shanique Kelly (she/her)

Shanique is an educator, facilitator and passionate community organizer. Born and raised on the stolen, ancestral lands of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, also known as Vancouver, BC, Shanique’s work uses an anti-oppressive, intersectional approach to explore ways to build more connected, compassionate, and caring communities. Shanique has worked as a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategist at Bakau Consulting, lending her expertise in both corporate and community environments. She is a board member and program facilitator for Free To Be, a positive body image program for youth and served as a member of lululemon’s DEI advisory council in 2021. Guided by her lived experience as a queer Black woman and her belief in the transformative power of leading with empathy, Shanique strives to empower youth to embrace their full potential as catalysts for positive social change.

Ry Sword Avola (they/he)

Ry is an artist, facilitator, and organizer that helps develop and deliver social justice, emotional literacy, and healthy relationship education. Living on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, Ry is a descendant of Scottish, English and Sicilian settlers. They are currently the supervisor of a YWCA program called, Dating Safe, that provides healthy relationship and dating violence prevention classes to secondary school students. Ry also co-facilitates with an initiative called, Real Talk, that holds conversational spaces about dating and relationships for adults with cognitive disabilities. In the past, Ry has worked as a facilitator and consultant at UBC’s Sexual Assault Support Centre in their Healthier Masculinities Club, a facilitator and coordinator at Saleema Noon’s Sexual Health Educators, and as a youth worker at Kiwassa Neighbourhood House. They have a BA in Social Justice and Peace Studies and an MA in Globalization and the Human Condition.

Growth Spurt:

Growth Spurt delivers workshops that help K-7 students develop healthier relationships through experiential learning and purposeful discussion. Our experienced facilitators use play and guided conversations to create a welcoming space where youth can explore complex topics while developing crucial emotional literacy and interpersonal skills.

With a trauma-informed, anti-racist, and gender-inclusive approach, we strive to create environments where children feel seen, heard, and valued while building meaningful connections and deepening their understanding of diverse perspectives and experiences. Growth Spurt strives to foster spaces that are accessible and affirming for youth of all identities and abilities.