Students across the Peace country got a visit from a Hollywood star last week. The Revenant actor Duane Howard spoke at 10 Peace Wapiti School Division schools about how he turned things around from living on the streets of Vancouver, B.C. for 13 years. He says he encourages young people to set goals and follow their dreams.
“I still have goals; I still have dreams, which I’m following, and these little goals that I’ve put into my life I go through it and I make it and I accomplish it. So I don’t just say it, I do it.”
Howard was brought up for a PWSD First Nations, Métis, and Inuit school tour, aimed at giving students positive role models and breaking down negative stereotypes about Aboriginal people. Although he’s worked with celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy, Howard says that’s not what he hopes the youth take away from his visit.
“These talks and presentations I’m doing, it’s not about me. It’s about community; it’s about being there for your community, I stress that all the time. I look and I’m hoping that one of [the students] will be successful.”
Now that’s he’s starred as Elk Dog in the Oscar-winning movie, Howard says his next move is to stunt coordinate for a feature film that will be filmed in B-C. He believes you can still fulfill your goals no matter how old you are, and encourages people of all ages to get an education, live a positive life, be open minded and teachable.