16,000 students skipped class on Tuesday for a different kind of educational experience. WE Day Alberta, an initiative from Free The Children, celebrates a generation of young leaders who made a difference in both their local and global communities from across the province at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary.
An incredible fact about WE Day is that individuals are not able to purchase tickets to the event, instead each ticket is earned by taking one local and one global action through WE Schools, a year-long educational program that engages and empowers young people to become active citizens and compassionate leaders.
WE Day started up at 9:30 a.m. with an explosion of lights and noise as the crowd eagerly awaited the upcoming inspirational speakers and performers.
Elliot Miville-Deschênes, actor, singer and activist, kicked off the show at centre stage with an enlightening introduction about a boy around his age who was a slave. Then Craig Kielburger, the co-founder of WE Day and an international activist, spoke of the incredible contributions that have been accomplished over the years.
As the show progressed more and more incredible people were revealed, inspiring attendees with words of encouragement.
Photos from WE Day:
Ken King and Calgary athletes/Kaitlyn Johnson, Calgary Buzz
Kardinal Offishall and Jessi Cruickshank/ Kaitlyn Johnson, Calgary Buzz
Rameez Virji (Inventor, technology and physiology enthusiast)/ Kaitlyn Johnson, Calgary Buzz
JRDN and the Kenyan Boys Choir (Performing “Same Sky”)/ Kaitlyn Johnson, Calgary Buzz
Spencer West in the crowd/ Kaitlyn Johnson, Calgary Buzz
Audience/ Kaitlyn Johnson, Calgary Buzz
Liz Trinnear (etalk and Much host)/ Kaitlyn Johnson, Calgary Buzz
Marlee Matlin (Academy Award-winning actress and devoted social activist)/ Kaitlyn Johnson, Calgary Buzz
The Band Perry/ Kaitlyn Johnson, Calgary Buzz
Elliot Miville-Deschênes/ Kaitlyn Johnson, Calgary Buzz
Francesco Yates ( performing “Better To Be Loved”)/ Kaitlyn Johnson, Calgary Buzz
Jessi Cruickshank talking with a student/ Kaitlyn Johnson, Calgary Buzz
Hosts Kardinal Offishall (left), Spencer West (centre) and Liz Trainnear (right)/ Kaitlyn Johnson, Calgary Buzz
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