Andy Thibodeau

My assemblies are flexible from 30 to 90 minutes. Energizers and interactive games are part of ALL programs! I will get my audience standing every 20 minutes to keep up the energy and interaction!

The most unique quality of my presentations is that your school or organization’s events, activities, and accomplishments are incorporated into the presentation. I will promote upcoming activities while offering recognition and praise for past events. Money spent on my programs can be considered an investment in more successful future activities! Plus, all your leadership groups and their advisors will appreciate a speaker that mentions their accomplishments!

On the first day of high school, I was 6 foot and 115 pounds. My #1 enemy … the wind! I tried out for the Junior football team and on the second day of school I experienced the failure of being cut. This hilarious and inspiring program encourages your students to have an attitude of “Pick Me, Pick Me”! Fight the fear of failure and be the student that “Gets Your Hand UP” to answer questions, ask questions, and volunteer. School is about balancing learning and having fun!

Work ethic, School Spirit, Self-Confidence, Resiliency, and Volunteerism are the key themes of this assembly.

My assemblies are flexible from 30 to 90 minutes. Energizers and interactive games are part of ALL programs! I will get my audience standing every 20 minutes to keep up the energy and interaction!

What was my criteria to ask Leica to dance at my first dance in grade 7? That she was hot? That she was cool? No! Hot and cool are temperatures and not characteristics. My criteria was, “will she say no … nicely?!” Her kindness and character were why I asked her to dance! What would she say? This moving and comedic story about self-confidence and compassion will have everyone in your audience relating to my journey from shy grade 6 to high school grad. My message: Care about yourself, your friends, family, school, and community! My top 3 examples of care: Show up. Participate. Listen. A special version is available for grades 1 to 5.

Themes of Community Service, Inclusion, Kindness, School Spirit, Self-Confidence, Bullying Awareness are woven into the program.

My assemblies are flexible from 30 to 90 minutes. Energizers and interactive games are part of ALL programs! I will get my audience standing every 20 minutes to keep up the energy and interaction!

A special grade 12-focused version of my “Get Your Hand UP’ assembly, focusing on enjoying the final year of school, being an example of leadership for the younger grades, and successfully preparing for life after high school. Perfect for grad retreats and second semester visits. Adjustable from 45 minutes to a half day or full day retreat.

My assemblies are flexible from 30 to 90 minutes. Energizers and interactive games are part of ALL programs! I will get my audience standing every 20 minutes to keep up the energy and interaction!

Inclusion is “Seeing differences, without seeing the difference.”

Inclusion is at the forefront of all schools’ goals. For 10 months in 2018-19, my family had three young women from Congo live with us until their housing situation was settled. The ongoing experience of being “Uncle Andrew” to new Canadians from Africa is hilarious, powerful, and insightful.  When you initiate inclusion by invitation, my family’s experience shows that the rewards go both ways – blessing the giver and receiver! From this experience, my work at the King’s College Peace Camp, and working for 9 months in 2020 at Costco, I offer perspective to the following challenges: How can you initiate inclusion? What limits our courage to invite? How can one maintain enthusiasm for invitation and leadership when negative experiences and rejection challenge us in our schools and community? Include, invite, and lead by initiating!

Keynote themes: Inclusion, Appreciation of Differences, Self-confidence, Communication Skills, Team Building, Community Service.

My assemblies are flexible from 30 to 90 minutes. Energizers and interactive games are part of ALL programs! I will get my audience standing every 20 minutes to keep up the energy and interaction!

We have all seen it when we are in a leadership role … someone gives us the “look” of disapproval and we feel our enthusiasm for leadership fade a little. A hilarious and life-changing keynote where I give your leaders effective strategies on dealing with negativity while inspiring care.  As a leader in my teens, when I learned to not let the negative judgement of others change ME, that CHANGED ME! I remind leaders that, “Care is contagious, but as a leader, it has to start with ME!”  From my own school and community leadership experiences, I offer realistic, easy-to-implement insights that will motivate you and your team!

This has been my leadership conference keynote shared hundreds of times at regional, provincial, and state events across the continent.

My assemblies are flexible from 30 to 90 minutes. Energizers and interactive games are part of ALL programs! I will get my audience standing every 20 minutes to keep up the energy and interaction!

Care is Contagious, but as a LEADER, it must start with ME! Lessons learned from being a grade 8 student council VP, a high school student president, and the orientation coordinator of my university. A powerful student leadership program that can run from 1 to 3 hours on improving communication and event marketing, handling rejection and negativity, being an example of good decisions and promoting inclusion!

My workshops are flexible from 30 to 120 minutes. ALL workshops are for grades 6 to 12. Programs are available for school or conference settings. All programs have versions designed for school staff!

“Can I Count on You?”  – Improving Your Reliability to Lead Yourself and Others.

Execution of ideas is the number one challenge for young people in organizing themselves and others. This session will immediately improve the ability of your team to work together and improve their organization skills. For students and school staff!  As a retreat, it can be a Co-Op/Workplace training program in Organization, Leadership and Time Management. A great PD program for school staff!

My workshops are flexible from 30 to 120 minutes. ALL workshops are for grades 6 to 12. Programs are available for school or conference settings. All programs have versions designed for school staff!

A leadership workshop version of my program on Inclusion. Leaders are the first “I” – Initiate. Leaders start the conversation, extend invitation, learn about barriers to inclusion, and work with others to find solutions!

My workshops are flexible from 30 to 120 minutes. ALL workshops are for grades 6 to 12. Programs are available for school or conference settings. All programs have versions designed for school staff!

Looking for a high-energy, interactive, and educational method for your SHSM/Co-Op students to get their hours and experience in workplace skills and leadership training? I have developed workplace skills versions of three of my presentations. Presentations length can be from one hour to a full day. Any size of audience. 

Complements your Workplace training needs in teaching your students Organization, Leadership and Time Management skills. 

It includes insights from my 9 months at Costco in 2020! I was a 50-year-old “retail rookie” being trained by people half my age! You learn a lot about your work ethic packing groceries during the tense times of April 2020 or pushing shopping carts in 35-degree Celsius heat!  

My workshops are flexible from 30 to 120 minutes. ALL workshops are for grades 6 to 12. Programs are available for school or conference settings. All programs have versions designed for school staff!

My 30 to 60-minute program to inspire and entertain your school’s staff at a PD session or educator conference. In the fall of grade 9, I received a letter inviting me to attend a “potential test” for track and field. That letter from Coach and Teacher Don Young changed my life!

When booking Andy for your school, consider organizing an after-school staff meeting so he can share this powerful program. Its length is flexible to your needs, from 20 minutes to 1 hour.

Also available as a one to two-hour Professional Development session!

Both “Making Care Contagious” and “Can I Count on You?” are available as adult advisor workshops.  Each of these presentations empowers adult leaders to support their students when they return to school.  Perfect for staff only workshops at leadership conferences.

In “Making Care Contagious”, Andy shares numerous activities and events that schools can run that support the 5 Habits.  “Can I Count on You?” will give adult advisors the tools to keep their team organized.  In addition, both programs are an empowering reminder to adult advisors about the difference they make inspiring youth leaders.  These workshops can each run from 30 to 120 minutes.