Over 500 students from around the Foothills filled the hall of Highwood High School on Saturday, attending the Foothills Young Authors Conference.

The conference allowed students in grades four to nine to participate in three different workshops of their choice throughout the day, as well as a meet and greet with the special guests after the workshops were complete.

Authors, musicians, illustrators and even some teachers were the leaders of these workshops.

Okotoks author Janet Gurtler says that the great thing about this conference is the kids come in and writing, illustrating or music is something that is important to the students, and it allows them to learn about their craft.

"They are able to come in meet with authors, and be inspired and write, and it's great for not only them but us as well," Gurtler says.

The students are eager to hear what their presenters have to teach, ask questions and have fun.

Gurtler says that she loves this conference for that reason.

"The energy that the kids bring is amazing, and then the stories that the kids come up with is amazing to me. They write so well that it's crazy and inspiring how good they really are."

Gurtler says that the presenters themselves used to be the kids that were walking through the doors of the convention and if she had this opportunity when she was younger she would have been thrilled.

"To be able to meet someone who does that for a living and makes money by making books and is able to share that, I think the experience goes both ways. If I had been able to do that it would have been like meeting a rock star to me," Gurtler says.

Students from the Foothills School Division, Christ the Redeemer Schools, and Ecole Beausoleil schools took part in the event.

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