By: Cameron Spencer

I’m not much of a traveler, having only traveled a handful of times with my family. This CASA trip was the first time I traveled without them and while it was somewhat nerve wracking at first, the process couldn’t have been more fun.

In order to get to Ottawa, Sarah and I drove for nearly three hours from Huntsville to Union Station, and then get on a train that would take us directly to the capital. The car ride was full of musical discovery and caffeine, and it was an unforgettable experience. Even though I’ve called Canada my home for my entire life, I couldn’t help but feel like a tourist riding on the train. I took countless pictures for nearly four hours straight. Also, my favourite spot in Ottawa had to be the pizza place near our hotel. They had amazing service and even better food! The overall hospitality of the people there left such a lasting impression on me. While the travel experience overall was long and arduous, it was also some of the most fun I’ve had. I’d be more than happy to do it again!

I have never had the opportunity to attend a conference before, and especially not one of this scale. Before I was brought onto the SSU team, I had some understanding of CASA but assumed it was a far smaller organization than it really is. The sheer scale of the organization and their efforts had me like a deer in headlights, but once things had slowed down, I was able to enjoy it fully (despite all the work I had to do!).

The day that stuck with me the most was the first day we attended the conference. Meeting everyone and seeing how much they cared about student issues inspired me, and was one of the things I appreciated most during my trip. While I knew that networking was the overall purpose going to this conference, I had no idea that I’d make as many friends as I did in a single day, but I did and ended up with friends from across Canada.

At the CASA conference, I learned how to navigate the political workings of Parliament and how to promote advocacy at the community and federal level. Being on Parliament Hill allowed me to truly understand how politicians operate not only as leaders of our country, but as people too. Learning how to speak with such important figures in a way that invokes change is a skill that will always stick with me. I have also found that promoting advocacy in Ottawa isn’t too different than it is at a local level. By being educated, passionate, and extremely persistent, you can create change at any size. My biggest overall takeaway, however, was networking with so many other student associations across Canada, getting to learn more about their efforts and finding ways to improve ours. It was a slightly uncomfortable experience at first but being around like-minded individuals who truly wanted to help students made it much easier. I was lucky to make friends and connect with several student leaders, who I’m sure I’ll have the privilege of knowing for a long time.

As the SSU’s VP of Community, my goal for this year is to bring in more community-based partnerships and perks based on the specific needs of the Sheridan student community. This would primarily include food, entertainment, and fitness, which we all know can help with managing a busy school schedule. I also plan to bring new events to our campus that target student needs like career and mental health supports. My time at CASA among other remarkable student leaders has helped me focus on these issues. By seeing the issues that directly impact communities across Canada, I now have a much better grasp of what needs to be done to foster an even stronger sense of community at Sheridan. Prioritizing mental and physical well-being with every partnership and event is the most important thing I would like to do in my role.

My perspective shifted from a small, localized community to one on a much larger scale. This conference has helped me understand that many of the issues we face within our cities are happening across the country as well. Issues such as food, housing, and financial concerns affect so many people. Thinking more from the perspective of a large-scale community—rather than a smaller, isolated one—helps to invoke a sense of belonging among our students, as well as the mentality that regardless of your school, you are never alone. This is something I hope to incorporate in my actions this year through events on campus. My advice to students who are interested in advocating for themselves, their loved ones, or their community is to wear your heart on your sleeve and let your voice be heard! My time at CASA taught me that absolutely anyone can make a difference, and that can lead to positive and lasting changes in the world.