KEYNOTES: MAJOR Motivation | Motivate Yourself | Diversity | Stress Management | Anti-Tobacco
WORKSHOPS: Public Speaking | Event Planning | Leadership Styles

MY ADDRESS TO VAUGHAN CITY COUNCIL

Monday, May 16, 2005

Mayor Di Biase, Councillors, Staff and Special GuestsIt gives me great pleasure to be able to speak today in support of the City of Vaughan Youth Strategy Proposal. For the past five years I have had the privilege of traveling around Canada, the United States and even into China performing Motivational Speeches for youth between the ages of 13-25. I have had the opportunity to work with 10s of thousands of youth from around the world, and I can tell you from experience that young people have the ability to lead and they have an ability to make a difference in their community and in the world.

Beyond my experience performing motivational speeches and workshops for youth, I also have the background of having been a former student council leader during my years in high school. Among my activities, I was the 6th Student Trustee for the York Region District School Board and I also created and organized the annual Westmount Collegiate Institute Leadership Conference which this past October celebrated its 7th annual Conference. In total I amassed over 6,000 extra curricular hours throughout my five years in High School.

My experience in High School of being involved in almost everything is certainly rare, but it is not an anomaly. Thousands of students every day in the City of Vaughan take part in various leadership activities whether it be student council, athletics, or just in making leadership decisions within their circle of friends. Every studentevery human craves leadership and craves a sense of involvement within some type of community organization. I have no doubt that The City of Vaughans Youth Strategy Proposal will have a significant impact in increasing the level of awareness and involvement in the community of the youth.

As well, I can tell you from experience that whoever is chosen to act as Vaughan Youth City Councillor will be receiving invaluable experience that they will be able to take with them for the rest of their lives. To take myself as the prime example, I went from being a 16-year old Student Trustee without much vision, to a confident Motivational Speaker who has the job of acting as a role model for students around the world. I believe fully that if it wasnt for my role as the Student Trustee I would not have become a Motivational Speaker, I would not have gone on to receive an honours degree in politics at the University of Western Ontario and I would not be standing before you today explaining how student involvement can change lives forever.

Some will question the motivation of the youth in our society. Theyll say that they are not interested in getting involved; in improving themselves; in improving the community. And I will not disagree with you that there are some students who for one reason or another are not interested in getting involved. However, just because some youth do not want to get involved, it does not mean that all youth are the exact same. If we follow that logic, then all politics in Canada should cease to exist, because for every adult who signs a petition, there are another half-dozen adults who do not. Apathy is prevalent at all ages in our society, and the only cure for apathy is action. The more that The City of Vaughan Youth Strategy works towards outreaching to youth, the greater impact you will see in community involvement and leadership among younger people. Inaction will only breed more apathy. .

I can also tell you from my experience in High School of being an executive member on the York Region Presidents Council and the Ontario Secondary Schools Students Association as well as from my experiences as a Motivational Speaker that it is vital to the success of any Youth Leadership Conference and any Youth organization that the Youth be allowed to run their organization with a hands-off approach from the adults. In almost every circumstance I have seen, when adults, teachers, administration or politicians attempt to get too deeply involved in the organization, the Conference and the Committee tend to become watered-down versions of their original vision. I implore the Vaughan City Council to put faith in the youth involved in the Vaughan Youth Cabinet and allow them the opportunity to let their vision shine through the organization. I assure you that they will shock and awe you with what they will accomplish.

You will change lives through the Youth Leadership Conference and whoever takes on the role as Vaughan Youth Councillor will have their lives altered forever. This is a wonderful initiative that will help to bridge gaps between a marginalized community and the mainstream. I firmly believe that the City of Vaughan Youth Strategy Proposal is a vital step in outreaching to the youth of our community. I thank you for allowing me the opportunity to address you today and look forward to seeing the steps taken to implement this proposal.

Thank you.