This year, Upper Grand District School Board students in grades 7 and 8 came together between March 5th to May 5th for the 2026 Empowerment Series.
Unlike previous years, this year the decision was made to bring Empowerment Day to students through a series of four events, which were held in each section of the UGDSB.
On March 5, 2026, North Wellington students gathered at the Drayton Festival Theatre for an unforgettable performance from Stacey Kay. During the day, Kay was joined by several of her friends who all shared messages of kindness through dance and song.
The message was clear, “If you are kind and nice to people, you will go far.” Kay was joined on stage throughout the day by her band and many of her friends. Beatboxing was Luke Stapleton, dancers included George Absi and Kiv Laudi, on violin was Jesse Grandmont, sax and piano was Tony DeLuca, on drums was Jim Toner, bass was Mark Laidman, and on guitar was Jeff Lupker. Supporting Kay with backup vocals were Tafari Anthony and Janet Turner.
Kay engaged students and even brought some up on stage to showcase their dance moves for their peers. Students left the day energized and eager to carry on messages of kindness.
On April 22 and 23, 2026, students from Centre Wellington and Guelph were treated to back-to-back shows featuring motivational speaker Brian Williams and wheelchair basketball champion Patrick Anderson.
Williams opened each show by helping students understand how perspective can shape reality. Showing examples of how the more you see and hear something, the more you begin to believe it is true, even if it is not true. By the end of Williams’ discussion, students left inspired to start seeing the good in the world and to create a ripple of goodness everywhere they go.
Patrick Anderson spoke to students about his story of hope and perseverance, and how even though life can throw you some setbacks, it is important to never give up on your dreams. At both the Centre Wellington and Guelph events, Anderson then invited students up to play a game of wheelchair basketball with him. These students will never forget their pickup game with a legendary player like Anderson.
To close the 2026 Empowerment Series Stacey Kay returned for students in Dufferin County. Dufferin students also heard from motivational speaker and former child solider Michel Chikwanine.
Kay was joined on stage by her husband, Mark Laidman, where they treated students to a mini concert. Kay shared messages of body positivity and explained to students how being a kind person helped her get to where she is today.
Chikwanine spoke to students about how they can be the good in the world. His main message to students was about how they do not need to fix everything, but if they just do one positive thing, no matter how big or small, they are still changing the world for the better. Chikwanine left students with a very powerful quote from his father and human right activist, Ramazani Chikwanine, “Great men and women [people] throughout history have never been praised for their wealth or success, but rather by their heart and what they have done for others.”
The 2026 Empowerment Series was a huge success and left students reflecting on kindness and goodness. This Empowerment Series wouldn’t have been possible without UGDSB teacher Andy Speers and his grade 8 students from Elora PS. Elora PS students did a fantastic job welcoming and introducing each speaker.
At the end of each event Elora PS students shared this powerful message as the last thing students would hear and take home with them:
“...Don’t forget the vibes from today. Remember that the way you treat the person sitting next to you matters. The way you talk to yourself when things get tough matters. Choosing to stand up against hated and bias matters. Because at the end of the day, KINDNESS MATTERS ALWAYS.”
Thank you to the 2026 Empowerment Series sponsors, without your support these events would not be possible. Impact sponsor Skyline, legacy partners Optimist Clubs of the UGDSB Area, the Upper Grand District School Board, and UGDSB Specialist High Skills Major program.
