WE Day Toronto 2018

Imagine spending a day with 17,000 young people committed to making change in their schools, communities, country and the world. Add a slate of inspiring speakers and musical performances, and you have WE Day Toronto 2018!
We were again a small group, of 1 Guider, 1 Ranger and 1 Pathfinder, but we still had a great time! We caught the 7:30am GO Train from Aldershot Station and made it to Toronto by 8:30am, ready for the short walk to the Scotiabank Arena. Once inside we made our way  to our section on the first level and settled in. There were so many speakers and performances, that I know I've missed a few, but here are our memories of the day:

The DJs for the day were the Celebrity Marauders - and they kept everyone energized throughout the day. This year's Hosts were Ally Brooke, with Millie Davis and Tai Young.

The first speaker of the day was Anne Curry, an award-winning journalist and photojournalist who has covered the news from war zones and natural disasters in places including Syria, the Central African Republic, Darfur, Pakistan and Iraq. She shared how she has overcome challenges, and shared the words of holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel,  

"I learned that suffering confers no privilege. It's what we do with it. And what we do with our suffering is to prevent further suffering. And that's the moral message...not to stand by."

She was followed by Spencer West and Riya Karumanchi, the 15-year-old inventor of the Smart Cane, a cane for the visually impaired that combines GPS and computer vision technology to detect and describe objects. Read more about the Smart Cane.

We then learned more about WE's new initiative, WE Well-being. This initiative focuses on creating safe, inclusive, supportive environments; reducing the stigma surrounding mental health and mental illness; and empowering youth with resiliency the skills they need to maintain good mental wellness. Afterwards, we heard from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Nick Robinson (the broadcast host), and a performance by Why Don't We. Next, Jacob Tremblay spoke, and we heard about the WE Rise Up Initiative that is spreading positivity online.  Lilly Singh promoted her Girl Love Initiative - "Instead of competing against each other, stand together!"

We then had Miss Piggy's first appearance of the day, followed by Olivia Holt, a singer and actress, who told us "change doesn't need to be big, it just needs to start". 

Adam McMaster then shared his experiences transitioning from female to male, further stating that "sometimes it feels like the world is trying to tear you down - don't let it!" We then heard from Mariatu Kamara, a survivor of the Sierra Leone civil war, who lost both her hands. She now shares her story and advocates for forgiveness and moving forward, taking moments of hardship and building resilience from them. The next speaker was Governor Samuel Tunai, from Narok County in Kenya. He spoke about the impact WE has had in his county, sending young people to school, supplying clean water, and providing health care for mothers. 

Marc and Craig Kielburger spoke, emphasizing the theme of the day - Get Doing! - and telling the crowd that change is "up to you!". The Arkells then performed two songs, "Relentless" and "Knocking at the Door". They were followed by Johnny Orlando with "What If I Told You I Loved You". The next speakers were Delaney Todd and Adam Amonte, the co-founders of March for Our Lives. The organization was founded after the mass shooting at Margory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida to advocate for an end to gun violence. The founders encouraged everyone present to "know your rights, get involved and make your opinions heard!"

They were followed by Mustafa the Poet, a YouTube star, and Cerenna-Tee Racey. Cerenna is a Grade 11 student at the W. Ross Macdonald School for the Blind who is deaf-blind. She worked with artists to create the "Transformed Through Touch" art exhibit that guides viewers through seven rooms designed to share her experiences. Take a walk-through of the exhibit on YouTube. She was followed by Devery Jacobs, an indigenous actress and filmmaker and Margaret Trudeau, who spoke about the work being done by WaterAid Canada. She spoke about how one baby dies every minute from dirty water and how having access to clean water and sanitation can completely change a village. 

They were followed by singer Jessie Reyez and Johnny Orlando, who spoke about how social media is great for connecting and communicating, but shaming and bullying has to stop. Apefa Adjivon then spoke about women's rights and the Pearl Project, which connects girls with mentors in their chosen field to show girls that they can do anything!

Michael "Pinball" Clemens, a former CFL player, spoke next saying, "do not just be inspired today - take action. Become the nicest person you know". The final speaker of the day was Adam Devine, a comedian known for his appearances on "Modern Family" and in the movie "Pitch Perfect". We left before the final musical performance in order to catch our train back to Aldershot. It was a long day, but lots of fun and a great experience.