​This week marks the halfway point in our first year of sessions with the young guys, both in West Pictou Consolidated with the Grade 7’s and at North Nova with the Grade 9’s.  To date, we have had great discussions about a variety of topics such as; Healthy relationships, Consent, and Exploring their perspective of what society expects from men.
 
Ron Kelly and Don Gunton enjoy learning much from these young men as they  walk this new road together.
 
Thanks go out again to the United Way of Pictou County for their valuable  support of this project as well as to both staff and administration of West Pictou Consolidated and at North Nova for helping to make this work possible.

New Leaf would like to announce that beginning today, both Ron Kelly and Don Gunton begin working with grade 9 male students at North Nova High School for the month of April.  Again  we would like to thank the United Way of Pictou County for their generous financial support in making this pilot project possible, as well as the staff of North Nova.  We hope this project will make a difference in how young males talk to each other about important topics.  We look forward to updating you as the project moves forward.

We, the New Leaf Board of Directors are pleased to congratulate Cathy Grant on her promotion
to Co-Director and to Don Gunton on his promotion to 3/4 time employee.  These promotions 
are effective immediately.  Cathy has been involved with the New Leaf Program in various 
capacities for almost 17 years now, while Don has been involved on different levels including 
serving on our Board and as volunteer, and most recently 1/4 time staff person for 
approximately 7 years.

We would also like to extend a sincere thank you to Ron Kelly, Co-Director for his continuing 
involvement with New Leaf for almost 25 years.  Ron is currently moving to half time hours, to 
assist staff, Board members, and the New Leaf program itself in making the transition to his 
retirement in March of next year. 

The Board is confident that that the quality service New Leaf provides will continue under the capable 
hands of its current staff.

On Wednesday, March 2, 2016, Ron Kelly,  New Leaf Program Director and Don Gunton, Counsellor/Co-facilitator, started the first in-school sessions of the Changing Male Conversations Pilot Project at West Pictou Consolidated School.

We are currently working with all the grade 7 males totaling 41 to date.  We have chosen to work with them in three separate groups with each group lasting 1 hour.  The young men seemed to be very open and willing to take part in this project.  

The first sessions were a lot of fun and we are very much looking forward to the second session will is happening today where we will begin talking about healthy relationships. Thanks again to the United Way of Pictou County for their support in making this project happen, to West Pictou Consolidated School for all their work in making this possible and to the young males who are participating.