Trainer Orientation - By Rachel Brown (YATI Trainer)

Oh, it’s the most wonderful time of the year! This February YATI hosted its 5th annual Trainer Orientation and Professional Development Day- TOPDD for short. A (possible) record breaking 42 young adult and adult trainers travelled from near and far to meet at the Lung Association’s headquarters for a jam-packed day of training. Due to the increasing popularity of health advocacy, we are happy to report that our team continues to grow in size and strength. You might say “we can’t stop and we won’t stop.”

TOPDD is an important day because it facilitates personal and professional growth, which in-turn allows us to continue providing exceptional services to the public (aka you!). While the pace and energy remained high as always, the direction of the day took a slightly different route than previous years. After a brief overview of administrative responsibilities, the rest of the day was committed to addressing questions about best practices through group discussion and brainstorming. The results were fruitful thanks to the diversity of our attendees, and I’m sure all our trainers would agree that they left feeling more prepared and confident to facilitate.

Now, as YATI trainers you may think it would be difficult to switch seats and become ‘the listener’. However, all ears and eyes were on our incredible guest speaker- Donna Turner from the Program Training and Consultation Centre (PTCC)- and her presentation about tobacco use among LGBTQ youth and young adults. Supplemented by some of our own subject matter experts, this presentation was crucial to helping YATI engage ALL Ontario youth. Definitely a highlight of the day.

As a last word, thanks to our YATI office staff who worked tirelessly to put together yet another engaging and impactful TOPDD. Without you we couldn’t do what we do. Until next year!

Photo Credit: Emily Butko (YATI Trainer)