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I am WE

On November 3rd, many young minds were inspired within Vancouver’s very own Roger’s Arena. It looked like any other major event: shining lights, booming music, the roar of the crowd over it all. Except, that day, it meant more. Each spotlight was the future of a child saved, and each cheer a cry of happiness on the other side of the globe. As WE Day Vancouver progressed, the seats faded away and turned into thrones for 20 000 young leaders. These leaders earned their ticket to WE Day by fundraising for their school and community, with clubs such as GAAP in Central’s case.

WE Day is a major Canadian charity event hosted by Me to We Charity organization. Attendees ranged from Grade 7 students to high school students who fundraise for their school and community; the GAAP club in Central’s case. It’s been 20 years since Craig Kielburger formed the “Twelve 12-Year-Olds” in Toronto, a club based on a vision to end child labour. Now adults, Craig and his brother Marc have become the founders of Me to We, and their message is global. The brothers have succeeded in raising awareness for worldwide issues, and WE is now hosted in Canada, the U.S.A. and the UK. The best part about Me to We, however, is that you don’t have to go far to make a difference . The organization does not forget the issues at hand in local communities, such as people living with mental disorders We Day is perhaps their most publicized charity event, supported by many celebrities and social activists who borrow the stage to share their thoughts

This year’s We Day Vancouver was no disappointment. It was filled with inspirational speakers such as Jacob Hoggart, lead singer of popular pop-rock band Hedley, or Spencer West, the Me to We Ambassador. Spencer West lost his body from the waist down at the age of five, but that didn’t stop him from climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro with just his arms.

Other notable speakers included:

Lily Singh, a popular YouTuber, has the support of over 10 million subscribers. Singh spoke of the continuous problem of gender equality and her time spent at Kenya. It was there that she witnessed first-hand the horrific treatment of women. This added to her passion for gender equality, which she expressed at WE Day Vancouver. She urged girls to stand together and fight for sisterhood.

Paul Abdul is a choreographer praised for her past work with the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Unable to pay for dance lessons, she started cleaning a dance studio as a child. There was a decade of working between her start and her breakthrough, but she never gave up. She gifted the audience with the motivation to work hard for your dreams- much like a Cinderella story. She inspired the crowd with her strength and humble story of persistence.

Our northern neighbours raised their voices in the arena about their history - Canada’s history - and about the decreasing knowledge of indigenous culture. National Chief Perry Bellegarde reminded us that a “young voice is a loud voice,” urging us to speak up and defend each other.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's mother, or “Canada’s Mother”, Margaret Trudeau, spoke up about a personal topic to many- mental disorders. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder herself, she told us it was only with her family’s help that she made it through. She also gave words of motherly wisdom: to take care of yourself, you must accept yourself and get the help you need.

WE Day extended out of Roger’s Arena, as social media was filled with Snapchat filters that donated a dollar for every use, and hashtags that raised awareness. November 3rd was a great day, inspiring many young leaders to take a step towards a better, brighter future.

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