Hundreds of students from 171 TCDSB schools attended WE Day Toronto on September 28, 2017 at the Air Canada Centre for a day full of amazing inspiration led by motivational speakers and performers, and Our Lady of Lourdes was one of the many schools. There were change makers at every corner of the stadium. Everywhere you looked you’d see someone who makes a difference in the world.

There were many motivational speakers such as;

          Penny Oleksiak (Canadian Olympic Swimmer/High school student), Andre De Grasse (Canadian Olympic runner), Ban Ki-Moon (Secretary-General of the United Nations 2007-2016), Rick Hansen (Canadian Paralympian), Jacob Tremblay (Multi award winning actor), George Takei (actor, director, author, activist), Bailee Madison (Actor, producer advocate), Gaten Matarazzo (Actor), Mia Farrow (award-winning actress and activist), Alexandre Trudeau (filmmaker, journalist, author), Millie Davis (actress), Tyrone Edwards (Host, E!/MUCH), Liz Trinnear (ETALK reporter/ MUCH host), Craig and Marc Kielburger (international activists and WE co-founders), Hannah Alper (blogger, ME to WE motivational speaker, WE ambassador), Tai Young (13-year-old speaker and aspiring actor), Spencer West (ME to WE motivational speaker, ME to WE ambassador and author), Val Weisler (Founder and CEO), Carol Todd (Parent, educator for mental health), Lisa Charleyboy (Storyteller and Winnipeg news reporter), Maria and Michael Moreau (invictus games scholarships), Celeste and Crystal Ceres (Sister duo and founders of Scaraspice, and Lilly Singh (Entertainer/Youtuber).

The singers made the whole event more amazing! Kelly Clarkson, Vanessa Hudgens, Sabrina Carpenter, Hedley, Sofia Carson, Shawn Hook, and Celebrity Marauders.

The guests spoke of their life story that motivates them to keep doing what they do and it does have an effect on the whole stadium. Thousands of people came and with many good intentions set in mind. The WE team of O.L.O.L. found it amazing how one person’s story can motivate almost 20 000 people, the whole stadium was practically filled to the brim. So many happy faces shone through the darkness of the stadium. O.L.O.L. was not just being motivated, all 8 of the students that went from the grade 8 community bonded over that day. The grade 8s became better friends with each other and actually made friends with other schools. And for sure not only the grade 8s, but Mr. Peterson and Ms. Dias had an amazing time too.

The team that went to WE Day thanks Ms. Dias and Mr. Peterson for giving them the opportunity to understand that others need their help and they can play a huge role in assisting their needs.

We promise to be the best leaders we can for our last year at O.L.O.L. We will do our best to motivate others so once we are gone the school will continue to help not just other countries but our community whenever they are in need. We are happy that we could participate in WE DAY.

Written by Justice Shine E. Arma