A Movie, a Celebration, and a Moment to Grow Together
NorthStar Community Movie Event Brings Families and Friends Together
On the morning of September 27, NorthStar Special Needs Society hosted a community movie event at Elgin Mills Imagine Cinemas, bringing together more than 200 children, parents, volunteers, and community partners.
In addition to a screening of Forgotten Island, the morning included a season-end awards ceremony for the NorthStar WaveRiders Dragon Boat Team and a closing celebration for the BuddyUp program.
What began as a morning at the movies became a special opportunity for the NorthStar community to come together, celebrate achievements, and share in the growth of our children and youth.
More Than 200 People Gather at the Theatre
At around 10:15 a.m., children, parents, and volunteers began checking in and making their way into the theatre.
To make the experience more enjoyable and comfortable for the children, toys, drinks, and popcorn were prepared for everyone. Children happily headed into the theatre with their small gifts, while parents and volunteers settled into their seats.
Throughout the year, many of us see one another at different programs, training sessions, and group activities. This time, everyone had a chance to sit together in the same theatre and enjoy a relaxed and heartwarming Sunday morning.
Celebrating a Season of Effort with the NorthStar WaveRiders
Before the movie began, the NorthStar WaveRiders held their season-end awards ceremony.
The NorthStar WaveRiders Dragon Boat Team provides children and youth with autism and other special needs with opportunities to participate in dragon boat training. With the support of coaches, volunteers, and parents, participants begin by learning basic paddling skills and following the drumbeat, then gradually develop rhythm, focus, coordination, and teamwork.
Through regular training and competition, they also gain valuable experience and build confidence.
During the ceremony, certificates, medals, and team awards were presented to children and volunteers who participated in this season’s training and races, recognizing the effort and progress they made over the past several months.
The WaveRiders have achieved strong results at the Hope Floats Dragon Boat Festival over the past two years. In 2025, the team won first place in the Special Needs division. On August 15, 2026, at the fourth Hope Floats event in Welland, the team placed third in the Adult Mixed division and won gold in the Para division.
This year, the WaveRiders also participated in the Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival, giving team members another opportunity to challenge themselves and gain experience on a larger stage.
But beyond the results, what matters most are the many moments of persistence throughout training and competition.
Every effort to paddle together, every new attempt, and every race completed reflects the hard work of the participants—and the ongoing encouragement and support of coaches, volunteers, and families.
The awards ceremony was a chance for everyone to applaud not only the results, but also the commitment and effort shared throughout the season.
Looking ahead, the NorthStar WaveRiders are setting their sights on finishing among the top five in the Special Needs division at the 2027 Canadian National Championships, with the goal of qualifying for international club competition.
The team hopes to create an opportunity for NorthStar participants to compete at the 16th IDBF Club Crew World Championships (CCWC), scheduled to take place in Castelldefels, Barcelona, Spain, in 2028.
Specific divisions and qualification requirements will be subject to the official rules and requirements announced by Dragon Boat Canada and the International Dragon Boat Federation.
NorthStar extends special thanks to Sun Life Advisor Leo Liu for his generous support of the NorthStar dragon boat program, helping more children and families experience dragon boat racing, teamwork, and community participation.
BuddyUp: A Journey of Growing Together
Following the WaveRiders awards ceremony, the morning continued with the closing celebration for the BuddyUp program.
BuddyUp is NorthStar’s peer-support program, supported by NorthStar and York University.
Through consistent small groups and ongoing buddy activities, the program connects high school volunteers with children with autism and other special needs. Through sports, games, and community activities, participants have opportunities to practise communication, build confidence, and develop friendships.
The program has received support from the Government of Ontario through the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) and works in collaboration with York University.
Today, BuddyUp has grown to include more than 15 groups and over 80 volunteers, with ongoing peer-support and community participation activities.
The closing celebration recognized this stage of the program through volunteer certificates, teamwork awards, and group photos, giving children, volunteers, and families an opportunity to look back on what they had experienced and accomplished together.
During the event, Benny presented completion certificates to program volunteers, along with the BuddyUp Outstanding Teamwork Award.
Groups came forward one by one to receive their certificates and awards and to take photos together.
At the beginning of BuddyUp, participants may simply see themselves as a “child” and a “volunteer.” But after meeting regularly, participating in activities, talking, and spending time together, those roles can gradually develop into something more meaningful: becoming true buddies.
For many participants, the experience becomes more than a volunteer commitment. It becomes an opportunity for genuine companionship and friendship.
Children and Volunteers Grow Together
Jessie, a parent representative from the BuddyUp volunteer community, also shared her reflections during the event.
As a volunteer parent, what she has seen is not simply volunteers helping children.
Through spending time together, children and volunteers influence one another—and both have opportunities to grow.
With encouragement and companionship, children can gradually build confidence, try new activities, and meet new people. At the same time, volunteers learn about understanding, patience, and responsibility.
Most importantly, many children and volunteers develop genuine friendships along the way.
BuddyUp is therefore about more than a series of activities. It is a shared experience of spending time together, learning from one another, and growing together.
Moving Forward Together
A representative from York University, Ms. Wang, also shared a few words during the closing celebration.
She reflected on the development of BuddyUp and thanked the children, families, and volunteers for their continued participation and support.
The value of BuddyUp is not simply in completing individual activities, but in creating genuine and lasting connections among children, volunteers, and families.
Looking ahead, NorthStar and York University will continue working together to strengthen the program and create more opportunities for children to participate, connect with others, and grow.
Time for a Movie
At 11:00 a.m., the lights in the theatre slowly dimmed and the screening of Forgotten Island began.
Children settled into their seats with their toys and popcorn, with parents and volunteers nearby.
After the awards and presentations, everyone finally had a chance to relax and enjoy a movie together.
There was no complicated program and no lengthy ceremony.
It was simply a morning when children, parents, volunteers, and friends could sit together and enjoy one another’s company.
Thank You for Being Part of the Journey
From dragon boat training and BuddyUp activities to gathering together at the movie theatre, NorthStar continues to create opportunities for children to participate in the community, meet new people, and experience new activities.
None of these programs would be possible without the support and participation of our families and volunteers.
Thank you to all of our parents for your continued trust and support.
Thank you to every child and youth who has the courage to participate and try something new.
And thank you to our volunteers, coaches, and community partners for the time, patience, and care you continue to give.
Every contribution makes these experiences more meaningful.
NorthStar will continue working to create more opportunities for children to connect, participate, and grow.
May more moments of companionship grow into friendship, and may every new experience become a meaningful part of each child’s journey.
Thank you for being with us along the way.
We look forward to seeing everyone again at our next gathering.
