May 10, 2016
MOTIVATE CANADA EXTENDS SUPPORT TO ATTAWAPISKAT YOUTH
Motivate Canada – MOTIVATE CANADA EXTENDS SUPPORT TO ATTAWAPISKAT YOUTH Ottawa (ON)
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May 11, 2016–Forty of Canada’s youth leaders, including three Aboriginal youth from the northern Ontario community of Attawapiskat, will be gathering in Ottawa to attend Motivate Canada’s 12th annual ACTIVATE National Youth Leadership Forum. Made possible with the support of the Government of Canada, the Forum will take place from Wednesday, May 11th to Saturday, May 15th, 2016 just outside of Ottawa, Ontario at the YMCA Bonnenfant Camp in Dunrobin. Youth attending this forum will unite around a common goal; the power of sport and physical activity to transform lives.
In response to the state of emergency declared by Attawapiskat First Nation and the social media posts clearly identifying what the youth from Attawapiskat want and need, including more recreation and sports programs, Motivate Canada recognized the significant opportunity–and responsibility-to be a leader when it comes to engaging and working with young people, especially Aboriginal youth, in this country at such a crucial time.
Motivate Canada has not traditionally taken a ‘crisis response’ approach with our Youth Driven Development (YDD) framework, however, we have already seen real examples of our programs and training playing an important role in the authentic response from the youth to address the most urgent and relevant needs of theircommunity.
With the help of some outstanding individuals Motivate Canada has raised enough money (not present in the allocated budget) to enable the three youth from Attawapiskat, Tatum Nakogee
(16), Sky Koostachin (22) and Skylar Hookimaw (19), to travel and participate in the ACTIVATE 2016 National Youth Leadership Forum. In urn, the three youth will contribute to the upcoming
ACTIVATE Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) regional youth forum June 10-12, 2016, and play an ongoing leadership role with other Aboriginal youth to bring about positive
change.
ACTIVATE 2016 National Youth Leadership Forum Details:
WHO:
Forty(40) of Canada’s most promising youth leaders (age 16-22) and 9 youth volunteer leaders (ACTIVATE alumni) who make up the ACTIVATE organizing committee.
WHAT:
Motivate Canada’s
ACTIVATE
2016
National
Youth Leadership Forum on Physical Activity, Sport and Recreation.
Workshop themes include sport for development, leadership, physical literacy, networking, community mapping, inclusion, wellness, action planning and more.
When
What
Where
Wednesday, May
11
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6:00 p.m to 9:00 p.m.
Opening Ceremonies kick-off with guest speaker, ESTEEM Team Athlete, Mark Hatfield
(former NFL and CFL player)
YMCA Bonnenfant Camp
1620 Sixth Line Rd
Dunrobin, ON
K0A 1T0
Thursday, May 12–9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Interactive workshops on Inclusion (featuring Get REAL),
Wellness, youth action and engagement, fitness night and more.
Friday, May 13
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9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m
Community Mapping and workshops on networking and communications
.
Friday, May 13–1:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m
Networking fair with national, provincial and local sport and youth serving organizations; Sport for Development panel, followed by ACTIVATE Amazing Race.
Oh So Good Café
68 George Street–ByWard Market
Downtown Ottawa
Saturday, May 14–9:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m
Physical Literacy, LTAD, Action
Planning,followed by closingceremonies
.
YMCA Bonnenfant Camp
1620 Sixth Line Rd
Dunrobin, ON
K0A 1T0
The forum will allow delegates to develop a toolbox of skills that they can bring back to their communities in order to create positive change through sport and physical activity, preparing them to create and deliver an ACTIVATE in Action project; a sport or recreation project aimed at improving the lives of other youth in their respective communities.
Motivate Canada’s youth-driven programs are based on best practices and research that supports the link between increased physical activity, improved cognitive function and overall health
. We know that moving makes us feel better! Sports and physical activity programming will not solve everything; however, they can play a crucial role in how young people feel about themselves; feeling more connected to their peers, their community and feeling a sense of enjoyment needed to build confidence and hope.
Motivate Canada is committed to supporting the youth and community of Attawapiskat, long-term and to the best of our ability. In order to make a profound difference to the lives of, not only the three youth leaders, but to the 2,000 people in Attawapiskat, we areraising fundsfor a Motivate Canada GEN7 Messenger to visit thecommunity and support the ACTIVATORS in developing the capacity and confidence to follow through with their goals.
We challenge our networks and the broader community to make a donation to support the development of sport and recreation programs in Attawapiskat by visiting
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/mc-motivate-canada/AttawapiskatYouth/.
Since its inception in 2004, the ACTIVATE program has hosted over28 Leadership Forums at national and regional levels, trained over 800 ACTIVATORS (youth leaders) and impacted more than 17,000 youth and children across the country.
Since the launch of the GEN7Aboriginal Youth Role Model Program in 2005, GEN7has worked in more than 70 Aboriginal communities across Canada and impacted the lives of more than 8000 youth.
About Motivate Canada:
Motivate Canada’s Youth-Driven Development approach taps into the natural optimism, energy, curiosity, and adventurous spirit that young people have in abundance. Using the power of sport, physical activity and positive peer role models, Motivate Canada’s four core programs—GEN7, ESTEEM Team, ACTIVATE, and Clean Air Champions—give young people the tools, training, and confidence to make a difference in their lives and communities on their own terms. For more information please visit:
www.motivatecanada.ca
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For more information, contact:
Dan Dubeau
ACTIVATE Program Manager
Motivate Canada
Cell: 613-355-0735
dan@motivatecanada.ca
Rebekah Wilson
GEN7 Program Manager
Motivate Canada
Cell:613-203-2196
rebekah@motivatecanada.ca