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Celebrating the class of 2020 means celebrating impact — these everyday heroes volunteered, fundraised and spoke out for causes they care about, participating in WE Schools service learning in their classrooms, taking action through after-school WE Clubs, or working independently on passion projects. Many stepped up to tackle issues resulting from COVID-19. To honour the impact of the class of 2020, these nine stories highlight some of the youth who made a difference this year across Canada. Find out how they gave back, what they learned, and how doing good changed their own lives for the better.
On a cold March afternoon, more than 100 people filed onto an ice rink for a skating lesson. So far, so normal in cities and towns across Canada. Except these skaters happened to be new Canadians, and the entire event — including a free lesson from NHL alumni — was organized by 13-year-old Jake Grevler.
Jake, who attends Toronto’s Montcrest School, volunteers with Launchpad, an organization that levels the playing field and uplifts young people through sports. His love of sports comes from his father, who immigrated to Canada as a boy.
Learning to skate, he says, is a part of becoming Canadian, but many who are new to Canada struggle with access to skates, ice time and coaches. So he started the event “Right to Skate,” to “help newcomers fit into their new country.”
First, he turned to WE, which coached him on how to create the event and trained him in public speaking. WE also introduced him to COSTI, an organization that serves new Canadians. Next, he recruited his friends to help out on the day. Finally, he reached out to Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment and secured donated ice time, skating instructors and NHL jerseys and helmets as raffle prizes.
Organizing Right to Skate took months. When the buses arrived, the participants “rushed into the doors, rushed to get on their skates and rushed to get on the ice,” Jake recalls. He spent the entire two hours on the ice, helping some first-timers skate, welcoming others, reveling in the smiles and laughter and listening to stories from those willing to share. “Their stories are why I wanted to do this.”
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