Revolution Place was filled with energy and excitement May 2nd as Mighty Peace Day was back in Grande Prairie. Close to 3,000 students through grades six through twelve experienced inspirational music, artists and speakers. Grade nine student from Grande Prairie Composite Haleigh Tufford says it was really cool to be in a room experiencing such an exciting day.
“It is just personally amazing to see everyone and everything because it is like inspiring and creative. It gets your excited. Adrenaline is pumping.”
She was at the event with other girls from her grade. All three of them volunteered throughout the last two years and were hand picked by a teacher to attend the event.
Students heard from inspirational speakers and artists during the event. Ashley Murphy and Paige Rawl were part of an HIV panel. Murphy was born with HIV and she explains that speaking to crowds like this is important to her.
“Ever since I was seven, which is when I found out about my status, I literally told everybody. Anybody and everybody who would listen. I have always been very open about it and my main message is for everyone, whether they are five or fifty, that no matter what you are going through you can overcome it.”
Rawl grew up with HIV and was bullied through out her younger years. The two go around North America to help raise awareness for the virus and how it impacts peoples lives.
Retired Us-born Canadian soccer player Karina LeBlanc hit the stage with her Olympic medal to inspire the kids.
“I ended with the chant “I am meant for greatness” and that is what I hope they do… they find their inner greatness. For me, I thought it was to kick a soccer ball for Canada and that changed. It is just so they believe that there is a greatness within them. Whatever it is; go own that.”
Along with LeBlanc, other inspirational musicians and speakers presented including Mustafa a spoken word poet and musicians like Her Brothers. That band performed the theme for this year’s Mighty Peace Day called Together We Stand.
The day also included performances and short speeches from people like New Castle Kings and Spencer West. The Rob Nash project was also part of the day.
Tyler Shaw headlined the 2017 event.
