GUELPH – Thousands of Upper Grand District School Board students are getting ready to show the world their passion and resolve, as the board’s annual Empowerment Day approaches.
This year’s theme is “I can. I will. Watch me.”
Five thousand students in Grades 5 to 8 from all across the Upper Grand will come together on May 2 for a powerful day of inspiration and empowerment. One of the key parts of Empowerment Day is that the students then take that passion back to their school communities and beyond.
The event will take place from 10am to 2pm at the Sleeman Centre in Guelph.
Empowerment Day was created in 2015 by two students from the Drayton Heights Public School Student Council.
Drayton Heights Student Council decided to continue this annual event and each year invites students in Grades 5 to 8 from all over the UGDSB.
World-renowned motivational speakers, presenters, and performers are brought together to share inspiring messages with youth. Through this experience, students within the UGDSB learn that they can make a positive difference in the world, both locally and globally.
Special guests
Special guests this year include:
– Hayley Wickenheiser: A titan of sport and a leader both on and off the ice. Haley Wickenheiser is an Olympic gold medalist, author and motivational speaker, and is considered one of the best female hockey players in the game.
– Leon Logothetis: A global adventurer, motivational speaker and philanthropist, Leon Logothetis is the host of Netflix’s The Kindness Diaries. He had a big life in the city, but was uninspired and chronically depressed. So he gave it all up for a life on the road. Logothetis has travelled the globe spreading kindness to unsuspecting strangers.
– Patrick Anderson: As arguably the best wheelchair basketball player in the world, Patrick Anderson’s talents on and off the court have garnered him international fame. Anderson grew up in Fergus. After losing his legs in an accident, Anderson discovered wheelchair basketball and after years of hard work got to the stage where he was instrumental in propelling Team Canada to four Paralympic championships.
– Trisha Prabhu: As a teen, Trisha Prabhu wanted to make a difference in the lives of youth and started a quest to end online hate at the source. Prabhu is the inventor of ReThink technology, which works to stop cyberbullying at the source, by helping youth see a better way and to think before they hit “send.”
– Stacey Kay: Stacey Kay was born and raised in Cambridge and over the years has received rave reviews for her musical talents. Her unique and powerful voice has been featured on America’s Got Talent and Canadian Idol. Kay has been touring schools in North America spreading her messages of confidence, positive body image and more.
She released her first full length album this year.
Follow along on Twitter using the hashtag #EmpowerUG.
