Pembina Trails rocks We Day 2016

Roughly one thousand Pembina Trails students and teachers packed the MTS Centre for We Day 2016. The event, organized by Free the Children, mixes motivational speeches and live music. Each student who participates has earned their way to the big show that aims to inspire youth to make the change they want to see in the world.

Three École Viscount Alexander students won't soon be forgetting their We Day experience. The trio was presented with the Governor General's Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers at the We Day gala. "It was amazing," shares Adrienne Gill. "It feels so special to have Craig Kielburger give the award and I could tell he was so happy to see young people making a big difference. "He asked how old I was and he told me I was the youngest person to ever get the award."

Grade 7 student Katerina MacGregor was also awarded the Governor General's Medal. MacGregor often spends time volunteering in her community and at Free the Children events. She is now more than ever, inspired to continue helping others. "It feels good. It feels like we are actually making the world a better place."

While Darren Klapak, a teacher at Oak Park High School, didn't receive any awards, he did get the opportunity to go on stage and share his story to a crowd of 16,000 people. "It was neat. I met Paula Abdul and when I got off stage I had grade 4 kids giving me high fives. I don't think they even knew who I was," Klapak jokes.

The Global Issues teacher has taken his students to Kenya twice to help build schools; another trip is set for this spring. He has seen firsthand how his students gain empathy on social action trips. "My students get a chance to see what is going on in the world around them. I tell all my kids you won the lottery in life being born here," shares Klapak. "We go and we immerse ourselves in the community. We go on water walks with the women. It is unbelievable. You come back forever changed."