Victim Services of Durham Region is now accepting registrations for its 2026 Youth Symposium, a free online prevention education program open to schools across Ontario.
The self paced digital symposium is designed for students in Grades 6 to 10 and provides age appropriate modules focused on healthy relationships, consent, online safety and personal empowerment. Because the program is delivered entirely online, schools in neighbouring communities can also participate.
Content areas include teen dating violence, human trafficking awareness, gang violence and peer pressure, cyberbullying, intimate image sharing and self care. The program is designed to be trauma informed and flexible, allowing educators to integrate modules into health and wellness curriculum or revisit topics as classroom discussions evolve.
Unlike one time assemblies, the Youth Symposium offers sustained access from mid February through June, giving schools time to engage students when it best fits their schedules.
Victim Services of Durham Region says the program aims to equip young people with practical knowledge and skills to recognize risks, set boundaries and seek help when needed.
Registration is free for Ontario schools.
The deadline to sign up is February 27, 2026, with access available through the end of the academic year.
More information and registration details can be found through the Youth Symposium online portal.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
