CALGARY — A whopping 16,000 excited students from across Alberta jammed into the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary on Tuesday for WE Day.
The inspirational event began in Ontario 20 years ago, and has since spread to three countries. WE Day celebrates the difference young people make in their world through volunteerism.
Students from over 650 schools around the province were joined by world-renowned speakers and performers including The Band Perry, Marlee Matlin, Henry Winkler, Kardinal Offishall, SonReal, Silken Laumann, Francesco Yates, the Kenyan Boys Choir, JRDN, Jessi Cruickshank, Joseph Boyden, Spencer West and more.
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“Every time I walk into the WE Day stadium I’m in awe of the commitment and passion I witness in every single one of the young people in the audience,” said Oscar-winning actress and social activist, Marlee Matlin, in a statement. “These individuals are continuing to create such positive change in the world and WE Day is a platform to help empower youth to lead the change we need to see.”
Matlin uses sign language to share her personal story about overcoming obstacles, and encourage youth to turn their dreams into realities.
Annually, 200,000 students coast to coast, from over 10,000 schools, earn their tickets to WE Day by volunteering in their communities.
“By bringing together 16,000 young change-makers today, students from across Alberta will know that they’re not alone and that collectively, they are making their voices heard,” said co-founder Craig Kielburger.
Alberta students logged more than 560,800 hours for local and global causes and raised $1.8 million in support of local and global organizations.
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