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On an evening of youth, exuberance and hope for the future, it was a moving recognition of the past that brought a stillness to the crowd of WE Day 2017 on Parliament Hill Sunday.
“Now we begin on a new 150 years,” Tragically Hip singer Gord Downie told a hushed crowd of about 10,000. “We leave behind the first 150 years, the ones with one big problem. Trying to wipe out our indigenous people, to take their minds and hearts, to give them the choice: become white, or get lost.”
Flanking Downie on stage were Daisy and Pearl Wenjack, sisters of Chanie Wenjack, a 12-year-old indigenous boy who froze to death while trying to walk 600 kilometres home from a residential school near Kenora. Chanie’s story is told in Downie’s book, Secret Path.
Dressed in jeans, a white jacket and his ever-present hat, the terminally ill Downie spoke clearly, slowly and passionately about the Wenjack story. “It’s time to listen to the stories. We’re blessed as a young country, to look to the wisdom of really, really old country. Yours is the first generation in the new, and real Canada. I love you.”
After a Cree “healing song for everyone,” from Pearl Wenjack, the Ottawa Catholic School Board choir serenaded a visibly moved Downie with his own song, Secret Path.
Founded in 2007 by brother Craig and Marc Kielburger, WE Day is a youth-oriented celebration of community service and empowerment. It’s now staged in 17 cities in Canada, the U.S. and Britain and involves 200,000 students from 10,000 schools. In its 10 years, WE Day has raised $79 million for 6,500 charities and contributed 27.6 million hours of volunteer service.
Photo Gallery: WE Day Canada on Parliament Hill
Sunday’s event was the first WE Day celebration to take place outdoors, and featured performance from Canadians superstars, such as the Barenaked Ladies, Nelly Furtado and Hedley, speeches from leaders — Gov. Gen. David Johnston, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and retired general Romeo Dallaire. NHL defenceman P.K. Subban made an appearance, as did Shania Twain, the “Man in Motion” Rick Hansen and Margaret Trudeau.
But it was the less-well known speakers that brought the true message of WE Day, like Michel Chikwanine, a former child soldier from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Annie Bartlett, who told of how she felt alone and isolated as a young girl ill with cystic fibrosis.
“Now I’m here talking about CF at one of the largest celebrations in Canadian history — and I’m not ashamed!”
The prime minister, his voice hoarse from the Canada Day party, said that after spending a lot of time looking back, it was time for the Canada 150 celebrations to look forward.
Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, left, performs on stage with Barenaked Ladies member Ed Robertson. Ashley Fraser/Postmedia
“You’re not just leaders of tomorrow, you’re leaders of today,” Trudeau told a cheering crowd.
The Kielburgers took the occasion to announce the creation of the WE Global Learning Centre, a digital classroom with skype pods to bring the WE Day message to remote areas, including First Nation reserves.
“No matter where you are, we can help you,” Craig Kielburger said. “We’re putting out an invitation to any young person who has a cause they care about and wants some mentorship and guidance, we are there to help and support you.”
More than 300 schools have already registered with the centre, which opens in September. “There’s already a wait list,” Kielburger said.
The centre will include a “legacy room” with streaming video of Downie, the Wenjack sisters and the prime minister talking about the Wenjack story, residential schools and reconciliation.
“Student after student, year after year, and hopefully generation after generation … will see that moment and realize we have a lot of challenges in our past and they are challenged to move into our future.”
bcrawford@postmedia.com
Twitter.com/getBAC
查看原文...
“Now we begin on a new 150 years,” Tragically Hip singer Gord Downie told a hushed crowd of about 10,000. “We leave behind the first 150 years, the ones with one big problem. Trying to wipe out our indigenous people, to take their minds and hearts, to give them the choice: become white, or get lost.”
Flanking Downie on stage were Daisy and Pearl Wenjack, sisters of Chanie Wenjack, a 12-year-old indigenous boy who froze to death while trying to walk 600 kilometres home from a residential school near Kenora. Chanie’s story is told in Downie’s book, Secret Path.
Dressed in jeans, a white jacket and his ever-present hat, the terminally ill Downie spoke clearly, slowly and passionately about the Wenjack story. “It’s time to listen to the stories. We’re blessed as a young country, to look to the wisdom of really, really old country. Yours is the first generation in the new, and real Canada. I love you.”
After a Cree “healing song for everyone,” from Pearl Wenjack, the Ottawa Catholic School Board choir serenaded a visibly moved Downie with his own song, Secret Path.
Founded in 2007 by brother Craig and Marc Kielburger, WE Day is a youth-oriented celebration of community service and empowerment. It’s now staged in 17 cities in Canada, the U.S. and Britain and involves 200,000 students from 10,000 schools. In its 10 years, WE Day has raised $79 million for 6,500 charities and contributed 27.6 million hours of volunteer service.
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Photo Gallery: WE Day Canada on Parliament Hill
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Photo Gallery: WE Day Canada on Parliament Hill
Gord Downie addresses the youth choir that sang The Stranger from Downie's Secret Path album. Ashley Fraser/Postmedia Ashley Fraser/Ottawa Citizen
Large crowds didn't let more rain stop them from coming out to enjoy WE Day Canada on Sunday. Ashley Fraser/Postmedia Ashley Fraser/Ottawa Citizen
Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, left, performs on stage with Barenaked Ladies member Ed Robertson. Ashley Fraser/Postmedia Ashley Fraser/Ottawa Citizen
Former CFL star player and coach Michael "Pinball" Clemons addresses the crowd on Parliament Hill on Sunday. Ashley Fraser/Postmedia Ashley Fraser/Ottawa Citizen
Serena Ryder speaks to those gathered for WE Day Canada. Ashley Fraser/Postmedia Ashley Fraser/Ottawa Citizen
Trent Seymour, left, and Rick Hansen share the spotlight on stage. Ashley Fraser/Postmedia Ashley Fraser/Ottawa Citizen
Members of the crowd get into the WE Day Canada spirit on Parliament Hill. Ashley Fraser/Postmedia Ashley Fraser/Ottawa Citizen
Olympic-champion swimmer Penny Oleksiak addresses the spectators from the WE Day Canada stage. Ashley Fraser/Postmedia Ashley Fraser/Ottawa Citizen
Nashville Predators player P.K. Subban makes his point during an address as part of WE Day Canada. Ashley Fraser/Postmedia Ashley Fraser/Ottawa Citizen
Lieutenant-General, the Honourable Roméo Dallaire gets into the spirit of WE Day Canada by hurling his necktie into the crowd. Ashley Fraser/Postmedia Ashley Fraser/Ottawa Citizen
Sunday’s event was the first WE Day celebration to take place outdoors, and featured performance from Canadians superstars, such as the Barenaked Ladies, Nelly Furtado and Hedley, speeches from leaders — Gov. Gen. David Johnston, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and retired general Romeo Dallaire. NHL defenceman P.K. Subban made an appearance, as did Shania Twain, the “Man in Motion” Rick Hansen and Margaret Trudeau.
But it was the less-well known speakers that brought the true message of WE Day, like Michel Chikwanine, a former child soldier from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Annie Bartlett, who told of how she felt alone and isolated as a young girl ill with cystic fibrosis.
“Now I’m here talking about CF at one of the largest celebrations in Canadian history — and I’m not ashamed!”
The prime minister, his voice hoarse from the Canada Day party, said that after spending a lot of time looking back, it was time for the Canada 150 celebrations to look forward.
Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, left, performs on stage with Barenaked Ladies member Ed Robertson. Ashley Fraser/Postmedia
“You’re not just leaders of tomorrow, you’re leaders of today,” Trudeau told a cheering crowd.
The Kielburgers took the occasion to announce the creation of the WE Global Learning Centre, a digital classroom with skype pods to bring the WE Day message to remote areas, including First Nation reserves.
“No matter where you are, we can help you,” Craig Kielburger said. “We’re putting out an invitation to any young person who has a cause they care about and wants some mentorship and guidance, we are there to help and support you.”
More than 300 schools have already registered with the centre, which opens in September. “There’s already a wait list,” Kielburger said.
The centre will include a “legacy room” with streaming video of Downie, the Wenjack sisters and the prime minister talking about the Wenjack story, residential schools and reconciliation.
“Student after student, year after year, and hopefully generation after generation … will see that moment and realize we have a lot of challenges in our past and they are challenged to move into our future.”
bcrawford@postmedia.com
Twitter.com/getBAC
查看原文...
