WE Day [S. Kallu]

On September 29th, twenty-six Delview students were given the unique opportunity to attend Vancouver's first ever WE Day event held at GM Place. A variety of inspirational speakers and performers addressed the youth on topics regarding the promotion of peace and taking the leap towards creating a better world. WE Day is an initiative put forth by a non-profit organization called Free the Children (which many of you may recognize as the power behind other programs like Volunteer Now).

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The beginning of the day was definitely discouraging because of rush hour traffic, crowded busses and the even more crowded sky trains. The poor weather wasn't particularly helpful either but, once you entered the stadium, you couldn't deny the energy and enthusiasm of 16,000 eager audience members.

As the speakers and performers took the stage to promote awareness by sharing stories and statistics of social injustices around the world, they were greeted by cheers and roars from a spirited crowd of today's generation. Undoubtedly, those who attended the event gained plenty of knowledge to aid them in creating positive changes, whether they be small or large. This year's line-up included His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Jane Goodall, Mia Farrow, Jason Mraz, Jacob Hoggard, Spencer West, Sarah McLachlan and a number of other incredibly motivating acts and speakers (including the founders of Free the children: Marc and Craig Kielburger).

Although each honourable guest had different things to say, and different ways to go about getting across their message, the main ideas behind the youth rally were heard loud and clear. As Governor General Michaëlle Jean stated, we are “the leaders of today”. Students were encouraged to immediately implement a youth-driven movement in order to help others. After all, hope for a better future is influenced by the actions we take now. It's easy to feel small and insignificant in a world so large, but, like Jane Goodall discussed, it takes a ripple to create a wave.

Skills Canada Competitions [C. Prideaux]

At the end of April a group of students from Delview Secondary climbed aboard a bus bound for the annual BC Skills Competitions in Abbotsford. The common denominator for our adventurers was an interest in the trades and desire to understand the many opportunities, benefits and rewards of skilled trade and technology careers. The bus ride down to Abbotsford gave students considering trades as a career option a chance to mingle with and question other students already in trades apprenticeships or studying trades at other schools while remaining Delview students.

Once at the site, the competitions showcased a wide variety of activities and demonstrations of trades craftsmanship. Delview students could experience for themselves~different professions with hands-on activities or check out a wide variety of national skill competitions. These competitions are serious business. They provide an opportunity for young Canadians studying a skilled trade or technology to be tested against exacting standards and against their peers from across the nation. In September, winning students will travel to Calgary, Alberta to participate in 35 contest areas and represent Canada at the 40th World Skills competition.

The apprenticeship program at Delview has seen increasing success as more young people have seen the value of and challenge in skilled trades and gotten a head-start on well paying careers that can last a lifetime. This year more than a dozen students in our senior grades have signed up for trades training at North Delta, Kwantlen and BCIT or will be working this summer as apprentices in a variety of trades. If trades and technology is of interest to you, drop by the Career Centre and speak to Mr. Prideaux or Ms. Livingston.

Photos can be found here: Photo Gallery