OTTAWA—During her one-day visit to Edmonton, Alberta, on Friday July 31, 2009 , Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, will make youth her main priority. She will visit the ihuman Youth Society Studio Arts Centre for disenfranchised youth in the heart of the city, as well as host a hip hop Youth Dialogue on violence prevention and solidarity as part of the Ignite Change Now! Global Youth Assembly (GYA) 2009.
2:50 p.m.
Visit to the ihuman Youth Society
10231-95 Street, Edmonton
The Governor General will discover the arts-based programming being offered by the Society to Edmonton's youth in need and participate in a one-hour discussion with youth on how the centre has inspired them to improve their lives.
ihuman is a non-profit, charitable organization whose mission is to use arts to work with high-risk and street-related youth, particularly Aboriginal and minority youth, to promote their re-integration into the community. For more information, visit www.ihuman.org .
6:30 p.m.
Governor General's Youth Dialogue
NAIT Campus Gym, Main Campus, 11762 106 th Street, Edmonton
Over four hundred youth are expected to attend the Governor General's Youth Dialogue on building peace and solidarity to combat social exclusion, gangs, gender-based violence and youth alienation.
In collaboration with the national youth organization Apathy is Boring and Edmonton's John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights, the event will take place at the Ignite Change Now! Global Youth Assembly (GYA) 2009, at 6:30 p.m.
The dialogue will bring together youth from across Canada and around the world. They will have the unique opportunity to have their voices heard by Canada's Governor General, and meet Sol Guy, the host of 4Real ; the Montréal-based hip hop group, Nomadic Massive; Stephen Leafloor, founder of Blue Print for Life and “Social Work Through Hip hop” workshops; and Edmonton's own People's Poets and Mother Peace (also known as Kristin Smith).
Those not already registered for the GYA and wishing to participate in the GG's Youth Dialogue in Edmonton must send an e-mail to rsvpEdmonton@gg.ca .
About the Governor General's Youth Dialogues
Having made youth one of the priorities of her mandate, the Governor General inaugurated the Youth Dialogues series in 2007, providing young Canadians with a space to voice their opinions on social transformation, and to pursue this dialogue on the Citizen Voices Web site. The Governor General's Youth Dialogues are part of a nationwide series of high-energy discussions that focus on galvanizing youth across the country to become catalysts of hope. With the collaboration of Apathy is Boring, dialogues have featured such artists as K'naan, Arianne Moffat, Jully Black, Samian and Ill Scarlet.
Her Excellency then shares the ideas and perspectives presented during the dialogues with decision makers. Past Youth Dialogues have covered such themes as the elimination of racial discrimination; youth involvement in the democratic process; women shaping democracy; and the historic inauguration of U.S. President Barack H. Obama.
For more information on the Governor General's Youth Dialogues, please visit www.citizenvoices.gg.ca/en/themes/youth_dialogues .
About Apathy is Boring
Apathy is Boring is a national charitable organization that uses art and technology to educate youth about democracy. Apathy is Boring accomplishes this through concerts and events that encourage youth to get involved in their communities while creating an opportunity for dialogue between community leaders and youth. A youth-friendly program includes workshops, tools and resources to engage youth in decision making.
Apathyisboring.com is an interactive platform providing youth with information, ‘how-to' guides and encouragement to get involved in democracy, as well as a space for dialogue. It is also a space for election campaigns to reach out to youth and give them the knowledge they need to make an informed vote. For more information on Apathy is Boring, please visit www.apathyisboring.com .
About the Global Youth Assembly
The John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights is presenting the Global Youth Assembly at NAIT from July 30 to August 2. Over 500 young people from over 34 countries, between the ages of 16 and 28, will participate in a forum exploring the theme of “Building Community” and how they can make a difference in their communities and around the world. Participants from different socio-economic, cultural and educational backgrounds will have four full days of access to inspirational keynote speakers, skill development workshops, social activities and networking time to learn from one another. The GYA is made possible through the support of the Government of Canada and the City of Edmonton, and in partnership with the Rights and Democracy Network, under the patronage of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO. For more details go to www.youthassembly.ca .
About the John Humphrey Centre
The John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights is a non-profit organization dedicated to human rights education using the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a framework. For more information, please visit www.jhcentre.org.
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Media information
Marie-Ève Létourneau
Rideau Hall Press Office
613-998-0287
613-302-0912 (cell.)
www.gg.ca
www.citizenvoices.gg.ca
Illona Dougherty
Apathy is Boring
514-844-2472
www.apathyisboring.com
Mandy Siu
Global Youth Assembly
780-453-2638
mandy@jhcentre.org
Sandra Bromley
Co-founder
ihuman Youth Society
780-433-5086
www.ihuman.org
