TORONTO, Jan. 3, 2013 /CNW/ - Canadian teen icon Shane Feldman says Bill 115 has totally messed up registration for this year's major student spring conference in Toronto.

"I am getting calls from panicky teenagers who have been told by their public school teachers they may not be able to go to the Count Me In conference if teachers continue to boycott extra-curricular activities in protest of Bill 115 " says Feldman.

Registration for the April 17 event opened today. "Students grades 8-12 call this conference the highlight of their school year," says Feldman. 1500 students are expected to attend the conference.

The labor strife means teachers who would otherwise be registering their students for the conference, now won't due to job action.

"Bill 115 was supposed to put students first but it's putting students second," says Feldman.

The 17-year old is founder and executive director of Count Me In, the largest youth-run empowerment event in Canada promoting volunteerism.

"The role modeling we see by teachers and government officials is far from exemplary," says Feldman.  "I'm urging both parties to arrive at a solution that really does put students first and doesn't just say it's going to."

SOURCE Count Me In