The future of youth and of Canada is through the education and empowerment of youth.
The message was delivered by an important keynote speaker Thursday night at a two-day symposium called Today’s Kids, Tomorrow’s Village.
Montreal/Papineau Liberal MP Justin Trudeau told a crowd of about 700 people at Kincardine District Secondary School that he hates it when people pigeon-hole youth as the “leaders of tomorrow.”
Trudeau urged young people to become leaders today.
He says we’re all leaders in one way or another but it’s up to educators and parents to make kids feel that way as well.
Trudeau says when a child is rejected by his or her family, community and school, young people will look for a place where they can be valued.
Trudeau says in many cases that means joining gangs which has no future at all for the child.
He says it’s up to all of us to engage youth and give them the empowerment to lead today so they will be ready for the future.
KDSS student David Yun of Kincardine believes Trudeau hit the nail on the head.
He says many students in high school aren’t involved and hearing Trudeau, he realizes the problem is facing students across the country and they must work harder to have students be part of the future.
After the address, Trudeau told Bayshore Broadcasting News he is not interested in the leadership of the Liberal party but more concerned about the rebuilding of the party over the next year leading up to a leadership convention in 2012.
However he didn’t rule himself out completely but said he has a young family and he doesn’t see a leadership push in the cards right now.
