WE Day reminds students they can change the world
Students in the region learned Wednesday how they were able to use their abilities, talents and passion to change the world.
WE Day Alberta, an annual event aimed at inspiring young people to enact change globally and locally, took over the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, with a number of local students in attendance.
The event, founded by brothers Craig and Marc Kielburger of Free The Children, introduced students to a variety of speakers, including astronaut Chris Hadfield, television personality Paula Abdul, country singer Brett Kissel, rapper Classified, Rick Hansen and Margaret Trudeau, who encouraged students to continue their efforts to create positive change.
Monsignor McCoy High School was among the local schools taking part in WE Day, sending its student council to the Saddledome.
“There was just a lot of energy and you could tell everyone that was there wanted to be there and were leaders in the community,” said Sierra Zukowski, a Grade 12 student. “Everyone had a really positive attitude.”
Seven Persons School also had 16 students there. The school was invited to participate in the event on the strength of its 1,000 T-shirt project, which raised money for Hope for Haiti, the Children’s Wish Foundation, and for Tanya Ellis, a Seven Persons woman diagnosed with cancer.
“To be able to go to WE Day, you have to do one thing globally and one thing locally to get tickets,” said student Trigger Ellis, who noted the school sold more than 1,200 T-shirts and raised $35,000 for the cause. Students were also able to give shirts to speakers Tyler Shaw and Spencer West.
Hadfield was a major hit for attendees. During his speech, the first Canadian to walk in space spoke to students about his perspective from being up in space.
“He focused on us coming together globally,” said Zukowski. “Up there, you can’t see any borders, and that symbolizes that the borders on Earth are created by man, and in order for us to solve our problems we have to eliminate those barriers and all come together as people.”
Students added that the event made them want to continue making a difference in the community when they got back.
“You feel motivated to make a change and also empowered,” said Zukowski. “The things that we’re doing aren’t futile, they’re actually making a change in the world.
“It motivates us to keep doing what we’re doing or start new movements.”
“It was an inspirational, amazing time,” said Cheyanne Zorn from Seven Persons. “I wish we could go every year.”
Other Catholic schools taking part included St. Mary’s and Notre Dame Academy. Parkside School and Schuler School were in attendance from Prairie Rose, as well as Connaught School from SD76.