We Day wants to inspire young people to change the world.
Justin Trudeau wants to inspire young people to change the world.
So is it really any surprise that Trudeau chose We Day in Ottawa to make his first official speech since being sworn in as Prime Minister?
Don’t forget that Trudeau also named himself the Minister Responsible for Youth.
Trudeau and his wife, Sophi Gregoire-Trudeau, rocked the Canadian Tire Centre with a short but inspirational speech in front of 16,000 area students.
His message: don’t be the leaders of tomorrow. Be leaders right now.
“You don’t have to wait until one of you, and I know at least one of you is out there, becomes Prime Minister to make a difference,” Trudeau told the cheering crowd. “Together we can and will change the world. That’s what this is about.”
Trudeau’s message fit right in with the theme of We Day. The arena-sized event co-founded by activists Craig and Marc Kielburger is designed to inspire and empower young people. Today’s speakers and musical acts ranged from Rick Hansen to Simple Plan.
But it was the Prime Minister, a last-minute addition to the event, who stole the show, greeted to a thunderous roar from the young crowd. “It’s pretty cool” says Nepean High School student Matt Dickson. “I think it’s a good way to start off his term in office. This is his first big public address.”
At the end of his short speech, the P.M. was treated to a chant of “Trudeau! Trudeau!…” But he quickly jumped in to change it to “Canada! Canada!...” a move that impressed at least one adult in the crowd. “I thought that was really symbolic of how much I think he wants to make Canada a better place,” says Paula Hughson, a teacher at Osgoode Township High School.
Amazing what you can accomplish with a chant.
