Shown, clockwise from left: North Battleford Comprehensive High School students Karlee Butt, left, and Hannah Nordell, Jessica Olson (BEATS coordinator), and Sakewew High School teachers Shanell Graham, left, and Kassidy Nielsen. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff) 

By Angela Brown

Cosplay competition

BEATS Comic-Con helps kids find their inner superhero

May 18, 2022 | 3:29 PM

Spiderman was there, and so was Dr. Strange.

It was all part of the BEATS (Building Expression and Awareness Through Theatre and Sound) Encounter Comic-Con Youth Expo at the Dekker Centre Wednesday, with many people coming dressed as their favourite superhero.

About 300 students attended from North Battleford Comprehensive High School, John Paul II Collegiate, Sakewew High School and Red Pheasant Cree Nation High School.

BEATS coordinator Jessica Olson said there are about 16 youth in the program this year, but organizers decided to open up the comic-con event up to all students.

“The last two years have been a big struggle with COVID, and the BEATS not operating how it normally was when it first started,” she said. “This year, I wanted to take the pressure off the students and just try and motivate them.”

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Olson said many students received tickets to see comedian Big Daddy Tazz’s show in the evening with their parents.

She said the comic-con event was something everyone enjoys.

“We wanted to do something for the community and for all students and staff,” Olson said.

As part of the event, a Cosplay Competition was held in the afternoon, with North Battleford Mayor David Gillan and Battleford Mayor Ames Leslie among the judges. First place received $500 in local gift cards that were donated, second place $250 value, and third place $100 value.

The competition was open to everyone attending, including the public.

Olson said the aim of the BEATS Encounter program is to help youth move from “destructive to constructive” ways, by essentially trying “anything they are interested in that is positive.”

Youth are able to explore their skills and talents, which they may be able to use for their future careers one day.

One of the guests during the Comic Con event was North Battleford comic book illustrator and artist, Pat Davidson, who previously worked for Marvel Comics for many years. Davidson showed some of his artwork and talked to youth about his experiences.

Alan Corbeil, BEATS Encounter program founder, said he hopes kids taking part in the comic con day get inspired to try something new and positive in their lives.

“We are actually exploring the whole theme this year of superheroes,” he said. “They have a struggle of their own that goes on behind the mask. Of course, being a mental health-based program, we really want to promote how all of us have those struggles in common. You can always tap into your inner superhero talents, and figure out how to do that. But it’s better to do that together obviously; being alone and trying to do things by yourself is no good.”

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angela.brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW