What do a Canadian financial services company and a children’s rights charity have in common? Well, more than you might think.  Through a long history of grassroots involvement and funding Investors Group  has developed a strong corporate culture of caring for our communities and supporting volunteerism. And with the motto “People Who Care”, it comes as no surprise that the corporation supports over 2000 causes coast-to-coast and across the globe. Such a passionate organization can only translate into passionate employees who not only “care for those they serve” according Murray Taylor, President and CEO Investors Group, but also find purpose in going above and beyond the day-to-day tasks of their paid job. As a result of numerous investments and initiates taken to improve the quality of live of all global citizens Free The Children and Investors group have become intricately intertwined.

Ever since the coalition was formed in 2007, the partnership between Free The Children and Investors Group has flourished. Through the Investors Group motivational speaking tour and bursaries for the Take Action Academy Canada’s youth are being inspired to become Investors Group Employees Donate Money positive agents of change in partnership with Free the Children. Investors Group has also developed Leadership Academy Bursaries which allow under privileged youth to attend a week long summer program put on by Free The Children. This camp helps educate youth on various social issues, the rights of children, community involvement, volunteerism and donating of time and money.

As a company in the business of helping people reach their goals, the corporation finds aiding Free The Children as simply a natural extension of what they already do. This has prospered into support of speakers such as Free The Children charity founder Craig Kielburger’s “Changing The World” presentation. Craig Kielburger is an accomplished child rights advocate, New York Times best-selling author and speaker with 4 Nobel Peace Prize nominations. In other words he is an average citizen turned zealous child activist whose campaign is to free children from poverty, exploitation and powerlessness. Craig’s dedication to giving back, building relationships, and sparking change coincide flawlessly with the very foundation of Investors Group, which is one of going above and beyond.

The company not only fosters an atmosphere of volunteerism among employees but actually leads by example, donating millions of dollars and thousands of volunteer hours each year. The dedicated Investors Group Financial Services Regional Director Bill Whitehead is just one of many employees who roots and defines himself by his deep commitment to volunteerism and the community. Working alongside his family, Bill spent 10 days during one summer with Free The Children, building classrooms and constructing outreach program in Kenya.

So, why does Investors Group put such a focused effort into Free The Children with so many other worthy causes in existence? People’s perspectives are literally altered and lives changed as a result of involvement with Free The Children. There are copious motivational stories of inspiration that include the Free The Children organization, such as the trip to Africa by musicians Keith Macpherson and Renee Lamoureux. While spending three weeks in Masai Mara through the Adopt A Village program Keith and Renee were affected by the abject poverty that surrounded them as well as the optimistic and open hearts of the people residing in the hopeless situation. The experiences encouraged the formation of an ambitious high school tour, partially funded by Investors Group, across North America to fight against the growing apathy MTC-W!!!!!Keith and Renee in Masai Mara TC_E 2010MTC_W 2010!!!!!!!!!!!! of today’s youth and encourage young people to take action. The 70-date “Generation Change” Tour was born.

As a company Investors Group refuses to just invest money into Free The Children and then claim their moral and ethical involvement in the world is done. The people in this company invest their time, their passion, their hearts into educating all children and daring them to dream bigger, enabling them to become free of poverty and providing a chance for them to stand for themselves.

Lauren Alyssa :)

I grew up behind a white picket fence attending the best ballet school in the city and private running and cross-country ski lessons. I have had the opportunity to travel the world and learn French and Spanish. Truly I have had many unique opportunities and experiences presented throughout my life. However, it is not the oboe and piano clinicians or skating and swimming lessons that have shaped me and my inner passions. The true essence of me MTA Picture of Me by Fuller EdgeC-Whas been shaped through my opportunities to taste life from another side. My experiences such as volunteering monthly at the Mustard Seed Homeless Shelter in Calgary, working with the poor of East Hastings in Vancouver and residing in a tent for two weeks while building homes for families of poverty in Mexico, have spurred a desire in me to give back and pay forward everything that I have been blessed with. The television series I created called Life Exchange, would provide two teenagers with the opportunity to encounter such life-altering experiences as well.

Life Exchange would chronicle the journey of two teenagers from separate worlds, as they spend a week experiencing the life of the other, in other words exchanging lives. In such a diverse nation as Canada there are many variances in lifestyle, income and culture throughout the country. Life Exchange would enable the youth of today to literally experience the perspective of an individual with a different background, culture, upbringing, and socio-economic status.  This would foster more tolerant, accepting attitudes and enable youth in our society to appreciate the hardships and difficulties that others face each day.

For instance, I would place a wealthy and privileged teenager who has had every extracurricular opportunity, travelled the world, and attends private school to temporarily swap lives with an underprivileged teenager from a single parent home and who juggles school and a job to help her family live for one more month without being evicted. Perhaps, another scenario could be an individual who could get the opportunity to experience the traditional life of a First Nations citizen or the humble life of a prairie agricultural worker, and eventually the possibility of living in another country. It would be a show of every day lives, ordinary people but coming from extraordinary, extreme backgrounds.

The show would begin with revealing each teenager’s lives, families, their every day schedule and the people who influence them the most. In other words, with a TV camera in hand we would be their paparazzi for the first 15 minutes of the show. I would play the endearing and lovely host who narrates all the action as it unfolds. I would be interviewing them and getting to know them in their world. The next 25 minutes of the show would be the Life Exchange and how each teenager analyzes, observes, and tries to adapt into their new environment and home. The remainder 10 minutes of the show would capture what they have learned in the Exchange and how they are going to use their new experiences and new found knowledge through an in depth interview with me and including their families and friends.

It’s all about one week, one life, one exchange. What are you going to do with the life you have been given? Do you take your life for granted? If given the chance to live in someone else’s shoes would you make your life better or would you choose to live in defeat? How are you going to make the world you live in better? Would you try? Would you just give up? Are you up for the challenge? That’s what I am proposing.

The poster on the right would be used to advertise the show starring myself as the host.  Goody and Finesse would be the sponsors of the show Life
Exchange. They would be excellent sponsors as their products appeal to the target audience of the show, the products would be used by the participants of the show which is a form of advertising for the brands, and they would get a chance to fund a television show that supports diversity, humanitarian aid and paying it forward; all positive facets that would only improve their reputation and public image.

Lauren Alyssa :)

Imagine the serenity of an impenetrable, emerald canopy above and a weaving path delving into adventure below. The quivering notes of a bird chanting resonate against the tangle of broad trees. Are you picturing it? Are you imagining the seeping tune the river sings as it percolates through weathered rocks? Now, are you imagining this world a few steps outside your back door?

Personally, I am lucky enough to call the largest, and arguably most stunning, urban park in Canada, my backyard. Fish Creek Provincial Park envelopes Calgary and allows its paths to weave into the lives of Calgarians. The park provides an oasis from city life and accurately represents the true essence of our city. Calgary is a vibrant and bustling metropolis that boasts a unique combination of cosmopolitan life with a small town vibe. The glinting skyline merges towards the majestic mountains MissTeenHere I am enjoying Fish Creek Provincial ParkCanada-WorldMTCwith a downtown that includes such icons as the Calgary Tower.

Hoisting Calgary onto the world stage, the Calgary Stampede is a fundamental facet that enables over one million separate lives to intersect in a transcending commemoration of the Wild West. Even the most urbanized individuals suddenly discover themselves out in public wearing red plaid shirts, Wrangler blue jeans, cumbersome belt buckles and, to top it all off, a cowboy hat. Red flags adorned with the silhouette of a cowboy or a chuckwagon race or perhaps a bull rider wave from every lamp post, announcing the arrival of the Calgary Stampede. Overall, the ten-day long exhibition  is exploding with  talented rodeo cowboys, chuck wagon races, agricultural shows, a Midway carnival, concerts , dance shows and a great deal more, making up the mainstay of Calgarian culture.

The expression, ‘good things come in small packages’, unquestionably applies to Calgary summer. No matter how fleeting, the 20°C conditions coupled with the renowned Calgarian diversion of drifting down the Elbow River on pretty much anything that will float, creates a picturesque summer. While our glass blue skies and remarkable summers come at the price of a distinctly bitter winter, Chinook winds provide the occasional temporary refuge from winter. Chinook winds can raise temperatures to a balmy 10°C even up to201Crowds enjoy a Stampede Breakfast0! 15°C  in the middle of winter, which to a true Calgarian, means flip-flop time! Not to mention that Calgary has the world’s largest skywalk system, enabling us to soldier on, even when temperatures insist on dropping below -20°C.

Heritage Park Historic Village enables people to immerse themselves in an antique world housing authentic buildings and costumed interpreters who bring our distinctive western history to life. Proud to be Canada’s largest living history museum, the park entertains people of all ages, from the thundering steam train, to the one room school house and blacksmith shop. Personally, I have always enjoyed the candy store the most; there is nothing like a little sugar and red dye in strawberry marshmallows to make a Sunday iSmiling on the Heritage Park swings! afternoon even more special. A blended reverence of the past and celebration of the future takes place at one of Western Canada’s largest museums, the Glenbow Museum. I remember being awed and astounded by the Petra exhibition that was on display a few years ago. The stunning artifacts and rich history impacted my perspective of other cultures and ways of life.

While there are many established cities that host numerous restaurants, they have nothing on Calgary’s famed Peter’s Drive In. Now, you may be thinking what is so special about a drive-in? This establishment is one of the best in the city and has even had celebrities, such as Hugh Jackman, come and enjoy the picnic tables and special milkshake combinations. Many of the dedicated employees have been working there for over thirty years and have earned the place an immaculate reputation.

A taste of agricultural life is satiated at the Calgary Corn Maze as people navigate through the giant corn labyrinths and mingle with barnyard animals at a petting zoo. The Calgary Farmer’s market has an eclectic mix of Alberta farm fresh products bought into the market every day. This enterprise creates an industry that enables nearby farmers to thrive and Calgarians to eat fresh locally-grown foods. However, for a bite of city life there are many places that provide amenities to Calgarians. Vive Rejuvenation is a private skin health and wellness centre that has been helping Calgarians become healthier and was also generous enough to sponsor me.

Even though Calgary insists on having all four seasons in one day, I am proud to call this remarkable city home. I am also so blessed to not only be able to represent Calgary, but the entire region of Southern Alberta. We are a vibrant and diverse people who represent the best of cooperation and Having fun at the Corn Maze! multicultural individuality; a type of concrete jungle, with the essence of the foothills.

Lauren Alyssa :)

It was in a flourish of red rose corsages and tulle dresses, the class of 2010 graced the stage to reflect upon the past and acknowledge the future at the graduation dinner and dance on Friday, May 21st. Having spent two hours the night before, trying to paint my nails the perfect shade of pink, the 9am start Friday morning seemed inhumanely early. My best friend Rebecca and I (as pictured on the right) enjoyed the time getting our hair and make-up done before heading to her house at 2pm. There all of the fourteen graduates who were to be riding together in the bright, white limousine gathered to enjoy a potluck lunch that consisted mainly of watermelon, cool whip and pound cake.

With my mom diligently following behind our monstrous limousine, we forged our path to Elbow Falls (as pictured above) to take photographs. In our flowing, bright gowns and four-inch heels we hiked, delving deep into the surrounding wilderness. We were encompassed by splashing waves and protruding branches, while taking in the crystal blue glass-like sky and views that were utterly picturesque. After innumerous photo opportunities we crawled back into luxury with burnt faces, wind-swept hair, soiled shoes and smiling faces. We arrived at the Stampede grounds at 6:30pm, with just enough time to take even more photographs and admire everyone’s stunning attire. The large room was clad in brightly coloured decorations with a Bollywood flare. Throughout the event there was a video commemorating our journey together at École Dr. EP Scarlett High School as well as a speech the Class Historians. Overall the evening was surreal, incredible and of course the food was delicious.

The anticlimactic (I mean absolutely thrilling) part of graduation was convocation of 590 graduates (pictured on the left) which took place on Monday, May 31st where the class of 2010 received diplomas in a flourish of polyester and scarlet stoles. The closing exercises begun with a patriotic singing of “O Canada” and the Principal’s Opening Remarks, given by Principal Lawanda Neilsen. The Greetings from the Calgary Board of Education and Greetings from the Provincial Government came from Karen Kryczka and Dave Rodney, respectively. Next the  Leadership President’s Address was made by our Student Leadership President, Katherine Rabik. The chamber choir conducted by Jonathan Bell sung Seasons of Love by Jonathan Larson. The  Valedictorian, Brendon Skingle, spoke to the theme of the graduation, Solve for X. The premise was about  seeking individual identity and persevering to achieve goals in order to reach maximum individual potential. The distinguished English teacher Ms. Parker announced the graduates with last names beginning with A through L. Every student was personally recognized and celebrated. The talented band then played a whimsical piece titled Arabesque. The ceremonies continued as Mr. LaRoque proclaimed the names of graduates with last names M-Z. As the ceremonies concluded the physical education leader and cross-country coach, Mr. Bamford, made the Honorary Class President’s Message. Throughout his unique and remarkable speech, he spoke about the foundations in our lives paving the way to life-long learning. The class gift of 2010 was a donation of graphing calculators that could be rented out to less-fortunate Scarlett students, who would otherwise be unable to attain such an elaborate calculator. In conclusion Mrs. Neilsen made the Principal’s Closing Remarks. One of the most poignant lines of her speech was “Graduating Class of 2010 you have developed the knowledge and skills to be compassionate, literate, ethical, connected and responsible in pursuit of being the best that you can be.”

After an equally arduous and enjoyable thirteen years of perseverance and triumph I have finally reached the end of my high school education. Journeying from cotton ball sheep made in kindergarten to limited reagent graviometric stoichiometry in advanced chemistry, I may not have relished every moment in the road of education but I cannot deny that I learned invaluable lessons from every step. Undeniably, I have  an uncanny ability to conjugate the French verb Avoir  (J’ai, Tu as, Il/elle/on a, Nous avons, Vous avez, Ils/elles ont), and can calculate the number of sides contained in a regular polygon that can create 495 diagonals (33); yet it has been the intangible and impromptu lessons that talented and inspirational teachers have given and family support (as pictured on the right with my Mom) that I will continue to carry with me throughout my entire life.

Lauren Alyssa :)