WE Day Atlantic
Courage, compassion, and wisdom tools needed to change the world
Craig Kielburger was inspired to start the ‘WE’ organization after reading a story in a newspaper that caught his eye while he was flipping towards the comics.
It was about a 12-year-old boy who was killed for speaking out. Kielburger himself was 12. At ‘WE Day Atlantic,’ Oct. 16 in Halifax, he was one of the first to speak, and told the hundreds of students gathered that he went to school and found other students who committed to trying to make the world a better place. That grew and branched out to be the organization it is today that unites people from all corners of the world and has helped millions of people to live happier and healthier lives.
WE Day Atlantic was led by the idea of all of us having the power to be superheroes, not necessarily the ones we see jumping over buildings in the latest blockbuster, but superheroes for change in the world much like the students who organized The March For Our Lives, Malala Yousafzai, or Terry Fox. They didn’t need to be able to fly or walk through walls they could save people with their empathy, compassion, and the will to stand up for what they believed in.
The day was chock full with speeches, spoken word by Wali Shah, musical performances by Johnny Orlando, Elijah Woods and Jamie Fine, and Halifax based Neon Dreams to celebrate what we have done so far and inspire us to do more.
Alyssa Carson walked onto the stage in her NASA uniform and spoke to the students about being the youngest astronaut in training at only 18, how it has always been her dream to go to Mars and with the technologies that are being developed that may come true.
We were reminded of the golden rule by Nav Bhatia speaking on the racism he has faced when supporting his favourite sports team, the Toronto Raptors, and how when faced with negativity it is most helpful to respond with positivity.
Margaret Trudeau spoke enthusiastically about her involvement in the WE Water Project, ensuring that basic needs are met the same around the world.
Another speaker on helping around the world was Dr. James Orbinski who worked extensively with Doctors Without Borders, and accepted the Nobel Peace Prize for the organization in 1999.
He was told the world couldn’t change, but he saw differently when helping a woman during the Rwandan genocide. He was able to look past the cuts and bruises on her face and see the real suffering in her eyes as she told him to find his courage and let it live.
“It’s not by magic that our world will be just and fair,'' he said instructing us that courage, compassion and wisdom are the most important tools for us to carry.
Even with all the lights, confetti, and fun that is important to the day, the main message delivered to students over and over again was that anyone can change the world if they are willing to try.