Yahoo News Global Anchor and New York Times best-selling author Katie Couric at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Chris Young/Canadian Press)
The eighth annual We Day Toronto brought 20,000 students and educators from more than 1,000 schools to the Air Canada Centre in Toronto on October 2nd, and its message was irresistibly simple: together, we can change the world.
“We all believe in change”, stated Free The Children co-founders Marc and Craig Kilberger to begin the day. The thousands of students in attendance did not buy a ticket to the event, instead, spending 14.6-million hours volunteering, fundraising, and raising awareness for a variety of causes to receive their chance to attend We Day. “This is the generation that believes in the power of ‘we’”, said the Kilbergers. “This is the Me To We generation.”
Queen Noor of Jordan, now known for her advocacy of nuclear disarmament, female empowerment, and education, focused her talk on reinforcing and advancing women’s rights to empower change in the world.
“We are all joined in our shared hopes for our future,” she said. “We all close our eyes at night and picture prosperity and happiness for our families and communities.”
“Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime. But teach a woman to fish and everyone eats.”
Chris Hadfield, who is the first Canadian to walk in space, and is known for his accessible use of social media during 166-days aboard the International Space Station (ISS), appealed to the tech savvy crowd to be their generation’s innovators and inventors, but warned that we are “the result of your decisions.”
“You need to be the innovators and the technological explorers of tomorrow,” said Hadfield.
Surprise guest Kendrick Lamar, who will release his third album this year, performed his new single “i” live for the first time to a roaring crowd. While the performance lacked any special guests (Kanye, Drake, Schoolboy Q), it was a treat to see one of hip-hop’s brightest stars in a sea of young adult pop stars. “Love one another. Accept one another,” said Lamar after his performance.
New Roc Nation-signee Big Sean, who recently released four new tracks “I Don’t Fuck With You”, “Paradise”, “4th Quarter” and “Jit/Juke” presumably from his forthcoming third album featuring production from Kanye West, DJ Mustard, and Mike Will Made It, touched on cyber bullying.
“Just because society puts these labels on us, that doesn’t mean that is what you have to be,” he said. “You can’t let the comments, the number of likes, or the retweets determine your worth.”
Grammy-nominated rapper, Kendrick Lamar, at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Chris Young/Canadian Press)
He stressed that while society bolsters the victims of bullying, the bullies themselves cannot be neglected, stating, “bullying isn’t a one-way street….
Who knows what they have going on at home,” he said. “You never know why people are the way they are, but maybe if you look deeper into their past, and deeper into what life is like for them at home, [maybe we can end bullying].”
Acclaimed television journalist, author and talk-show host Katie Couric encouraged students to “be a critical consumer about the ads you watch and the food you buy [because knowledge is power]”, reinforcing the message of her new documentary on the childhood obesity epidemic, Fed Up.
“Of 600,000 items in the grocery store, 80 per cent of them have added sugar,” Couric said. “You need to demand that your school cafeterias serve you healthy, delicious, and unprocessed food, and that they need to stop being in business with soda makers.”
Couric’s talk drew on a particularly alarming statistic that in 1980, there were zero cases of type 2 diabetes in adolescence, but in 2010 there were over 57,000 cases of Type 2 Diabetes in adolescence. Couric’s poignancy was not about scaring the audience but rather to spark an impetus to demand change from the status quo and to encourage families and communities to live healthier lives.
“Keep caring about the issues you care about now and find other things to care about,” she said. “Sometimes you find your calling, and other times, your calling finds you.”
We Day Toronto will premiere on Tuesday, November 11, 2014 at 8:00 p.m. ET on MTV and on CTV on Saturday, November 22 at 7 p.m. ET.
GRAMMY-nominated, multi-platinum artist and Free The Children ambassador, Joe Jonas, at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Chris Young/Canadian Press)
International activist and co-founder of We Day, Craig Kielburger, at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Chris Young/Canadian Press)
Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Chris Young/Canadian Press)
Host of Much Countdown and host of We Day Toronto, Liz Trinnear, at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Michael Rajzman/Free The Children)
20,000 students and educators pack the Air Canada Centre for We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Chris Young/Canadian Press)
MMVA-nominated Canadian pop-rock band, Neverest, at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Chris Young/Canadian Press)
Host of Much Countdown and host of We Day Toronto, Liz Trinnear, at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Chris Young/Canadian Press)
Social advocate, filmmaker, and grandson of President Nelson Mandela, Kweku Mandela, at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Chris Young/Canadian Press)
MTV Europe Music Award winner and Free The Children ambassador, Karl Wolf, at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Chris Young/Canadian Press)
Me to We inspirational speaker, Free The Children ambassador, and author, Spencer West, at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Chris Young/Canadian Press)
Aislinn Paul and Luke Bilyk, cast members from the Emmy-nominated TV series DEGRASSI, at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Chris Young/Canadian Press)
International activists and co-founders of We Day, Craig and Marc Kielburger, at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Chris Young/Canadian Press)
Juno Award-winning artist and Free The Children ambassador, JRDN, at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Chris Young/Canadian Press)
Award-winning rap artist, music producer and Free The Children ambassador, Kardinal Offishall, at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Chris Young/Canadian Press)
Canadian musician and lead singer of the Barenaked Ladies Ed Robertson at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Chris Young/The Canadian Press)
Spoken word artist, Mustafa the Poet, at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Chris Young/Canadian Press)
American pop rock band, R5, at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Chris Young/Canadian Press)
Canadian pop multi-instrumentalist and JUNO Award winner, Lights, at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Chris Young/Canadian Press)
Platinum-selling and Juno Award-winning recording artist, Shawn Desman, at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Chris Young/Canadian Press)
11-year-old Me to We inspirational speaker, Free The Children ambassador, blogger and youth activist Hannah Alper at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Chris Young/Canadian Press)
Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Chris Young/Canadian Press)
Multi-platinum, JUNO and MMVA Award-winning recording artists and Free The Children ambassadors, Hedley, at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Chris Young/Canadian Press)
Astronaut, author, professor, musician, first Canadian to walk in space/command a spaceship, Col. Chris Hadfield, at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Chris Young/Canadian Press)
Social advocate, filmmaker, and grandson of President Nelson Mandela, Kweku Mandela, at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Chris Young/Canadian Press)
Grammy-nominated rapper, Kendrick Lamar, at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Chris Young/Canadian Press)
Canadian musician and lead singer of the Barenaked Ladies Ed Robertson at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Chris Young/The Canadian Press)
Rocket Scientist, explorer, and advocate for women in technology, Natalie Panek, at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Chris Young/Canadian Press)
17-year-old artist, inventor and scientist, Alex Deans, at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Chris Young/Canadian Press)
11-year-old Me to We inspirational speaker, Free The Children ambassador, blogger and youth activist Hannah Alper, along with platinum-selling and JUNO award-winning recording artist Shawn Desman at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Chris Young/Canadian Press)
Grammy-nominated rapper, Kendrick Lamar, at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Chris Young/Canadian Press)
Aboriginal panel facilitated by Stan Wesley, national speaker, featuring Chelsea Jane Edwards, aboriginal youth activist, Dakota Brant, motivational speaker, and Melanie Rose Frappier, youth ambassador of Canada at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Chris Young/Canadian Press)
Award-winning rap artist, music producer and Free The Children ambassador, Kardinal Offishall, at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Chris Young/Canadian Press)
20,000 students and educators pack the Air Canada Centre for We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Chris Young/Canadian Press)
Award-winning rap artist, music producer and Free The Children ambassador, Kardinal Offishall, at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Chris Young/Canadian Press)
Singer, songwriter, producer and Free The Children ambassador, Nelly Furtado, with Irene and Joan, students from Free The Children’s Kisaruni All-Girls School in Kenya Kisaruni girls at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Chris Young/Canadian Press)
Canadian pop multi-instrumentalist and JUNO Award winner, Lights, at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Chris Young/Canadian Press)
Astronaut, author, professor, musician, first Canadian to walk in space/command a spaceship, Col. Chris Hadfield, at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Chris Young/Canadian Press)
International activists and co-founders of We Day, Craig and Marc Kielburger, at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Chris Young/Canadian Press)
Award-winning rap artist, music producer and Free The Children ambassador, Kardinal Offishall, is joined on stage by Juno Award-winning artist and Free The Children ambassador, JRDN, at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Chris Young/Canadian Press)
Me to We inspirational speaker, Free The Children ambassador, and author, Spencer West, at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Chris Young/Canadian Press)
Spoken word artist, Mustafa the Poet, at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Michael Rajzman/Free The Children)
Award-winning rap artist, music producer and Free The Children ambassador, Kardinal Offishall, along with international recording artist, MTV Europe Music Award-winner and Free The Children ambassador, Karl Wolf, performing the official We Day dance song “We Turn It Up.” at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Michael Rajzman/Free The Children)
Me to We motivational speaker, author and Free The Children Program Director in Ghana and Kenya, Robin Wiszowaty, with Kenyan Me to We Artisans mobilizer, Mama Leah Lato Toyianka, at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Michael Rajzman/Free The Children)
Spoken word artist, Mustafa the Poet, at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Amanda-Susan Carson/Aesthetic Magazine Toronto)
International activists and co-founders of We Day, Craig and Marc Kielburger, at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Amanda-Susan Carson/Aesthetic Magazine Toronto)
Host of Much Countdown and host of We Day Toronto, Liz Trinnear at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Amanda-Susan Carson/Aesthetic Magazine Toronto)
Award-winning rap artist, music producer and Free The Children ambassador, Kardinal Offishall, at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Amanda-Susan Carson/Aesthetic Magazine Toronto)
Singer, songwriter, producer and Free The Children ambassador, Nelly Furtado, with Irene and Joan, students from Free The Children’s Kisaruni All-Girls School in Kenya Kisaruni girls at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Amanda-Susan Carson/Aesthetic Magazine Toronto)
Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Amanda-Susan Carson/Aesthetic Magazine Toronto)
Nelly Furtado (left) and Liz Trinnear at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Amanda-Susan Carson/Aesthetic Magazine Toronto)
Lights at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Amanda-Susan Carson/Aesthetic Magazine Toronto)
Lights at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Amanda-Susan Carson/Aesthetic Magazine Toronto)
Chris Hadfield at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Amanda-Susan Carson/Aesthetic Magazine Toronto)
Chris Hadfield at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Amanda-Susan Carson/Aesthetic Magazine Toronto)
Hedley at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Amanda-Susan Carson/Aesthetic Magazine Toronto)
Hedley at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Amanda-Susan Carson/Aesthetic Magazine Toronto)
Hedley at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Amanda-Susan Carson/Aesthetic Magazine Toronto)
Kendrick Lamar at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Amanda-Susan Carson/Aesthetic Magazine Toronto)
Kendrick Lamar at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Amanda-Susan Carson/Aesthetic Magazine Toronto)
Kendrick Lamar at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Amanda-Susan Carson/Aesthetic Magazine Toronto)
Big Sean at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Amanda-Susan Carson/Aesthetic Magazine Toronto)
R5 at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Amanda-Susan Carson/Aesthetic Magazine Toronto)
R5 at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Amanda-Susan Carson/Aesthetic Magazine Toronto)
R5 at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Amanda-Susan Carson/Aesthetic Magazine Toronto)
Katie Couric at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Amanda-Susan Carson/Aesthetic Magazine Toronto)
Joe Jonas (left) and Liz Trinnear at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Amanda-Susan Carson/Aesthetic Magazine Toronto)
International activists and co-founders of We Day, Craig and Marc Kielburger at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Amanda-Susan Carson/Aesthetic Magazine Toronto)
Social advocate, filmmaker, and grandson of President Nelson Mandela, Kweku Mandela at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Amanda-Susan Carson/Aesthetic Magazine Toronto)
Award-winning rap artist, music producer and Free The Children ambassador, Kardinal Offishall, at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Amanda-Susan Carson/Aesthetic Magazine Toronto)
We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Amanda-Susan Carson/Aesthetic Magazine Toronto)
Award-winning rap artist, music producer and Free The Children ambassador, Kardinal Offishall, at We Day Toronto 2014. (Photo: Amanda-Susan Carson/Aesthetic Magazine Toronto)
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