Backstage at We Day 2011

Youthink gets a backstage pass to We Day 2011!

I’m currently sitting in the pressroom at Vancouver’s We Day in Rogers Arena. It has been a chaotic, busy and unpredictable day. But for both me and the 18,000 other youth in the arena, it has been a day of overwhelming inspiration.

I managed to catch the first hour or so of performers from the media suite inside the stadium. First, the students learned the We Day dance, and from my seat above all the action, I witnessed a sea of fists pumping and teenagers jumping with enough energy to literally shake the building.

Shawn Desman soon took the stage and sang Night Like This, the song to which the We Day dance is choreographed. Premier Christy Clark spoke next and gave a speech referencing local hero, Terry Fox. After Clark, Classified performed his song That Ain’t Classy before I returned to the pressroom.

Backstage in the media area, I watched the Kielburger brothers (founders of Free The Children) give the opening address with the mantra: “We Day is the movement of our time.”

Click here to read Q&As from our interviews with all the celebrity speakers and performers at We Day 2011.

Then, a major highlight of the day, former president of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev came to the pressroom for a very quick Q&A. There was a flurry of politically charged questions (on topics like Occupy Wall Street, for example), which Gorbachev answered in a measured and well-thought-out manner.

Former president of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev

After Gorbachev exited the press area, the very charming actress/activist Mia Farrow took the stage for her Q&A session. Her passion was evident and engaging, and her charisma was infectious. When asked which world issue she felt was currently the most important, she talked passionately about famine in the horn of Africa.

Actress/activist Mia Farrow

The final person to come in for the Q&A was Free the Children founder Craig Kielburger. I have to say that I’ve never met someone with such a huge personality; his presence completely filled the room and everyone hung on his every word.

Free the Children founder Craig Kielburger

The Q&A wrapped up after Kielburger and we were rushed off to the red carpet where we spoke with Down With Webster, Shaquille O’Neil, Classified, Hedley and Shawn Desman. They all were clearly proud to be a part of We Day despite having such different backgrounds.

NBA all-star Shaq

It has been slightly surreal to be caught up in this flurry of celebrities and activists, but I try to keep reminding myself that what We Day is really about, and what all those celebrities are here for – those 18, 000 young people screaming in the seats of Rogers Arena.

Shawn Desman

Check out Kirsty's celebrity interviews from Vancouver We Day 2011

Read Kirsty's interview about We Day with Down With Webster.