Nicole Horn
Up to 40 Fort High students will experience one of the best motivational and educational events held in Canada when they head to Winnipeg next Tuesday for the annual “We Day” concert.
“We Day” is a movement of young people leading local and global change.
Speakers from around the world talk in front of thousands of students about how young people can take action as agents of social change, as well as help out in their community or in communities around the globe.
Alongside the motivational speakers are performances for a little extra entertainment.
This is the second year Fort High students will be going to “We Day.”
Students from last year’s trip said the event was very inspirational, and showed them that being a positive role model—and helping out around your school or community—can make a big difference in the world.
Last year was such an educational and inspirational experience, in fact, that Fort High teacher reps Shane Beckett and Chris Hill wanted to take part in it again this year.
The host of “We Day” Manitoba will be Jesse Giddings, a recording artist and TV personality.
This year, the speakers include Mikhail Gorbachev, a former president of the Soviet Union and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Kevin Chief, minister of Children and Youth Opportunities for Manitoba, Liz Murray, author of a New York Times’ best-selling memoir, and Hannah Taylor, a 16-year-old activist who founded The Ladybug Foundation.
Also speaking at “We Day” will be Spencer West, a “Free the Children” ambassador.
“I’m excited to hear Mikhail Gorbachev speak,” enthused Jillian Bobczynski, one of the Fort High students who is attending the trip.
“I think that it’s really cool that we can get the opportunity to listen to him speak and hear what he has to say,” she added.
But this event isn’t just about the amazing speakers. There also will be performances by Lights, a Juno Award-winning Canadian electro-rock singer, and Canadian singer, dancer, and actor Victoria Duffield.
Pop rock recording artists Allstar Weekend and Shawn Desman, a platinum-selling, Juno- and MMVA-winning recording artist, also will perform.
To top it all of, the students will be able to have lunch with Desman, as well.
A teacher survey was filled out by all of the students interested in making the trip. From those comments and their grades, Beckett and Hill then decided which ones could go.
They also took into consideration the students who are part of Dexter Fichuk’s “Mobilizers” group, which is a direct link to “Free the Children.”
As well, any students who are part of the leadership council, or who are a leader in the school, were given priority over others.
