Harbour Station Event Will Inspire, Engage 3,300 Students About the Future of N.B.
SAINT JOHN – More than 3,000 students, teachers and parents from across New Brunswick are gathering at Saint John’s Harbour Station Thursday for the official launch of the My NB 150 initiative. To spread the idea that there are opportunities for youth here in the Province, Harbour Station will be bustling with music, comedy, storytelling, and entertainment.
The event is co-hosted by Wicked Ideas, the Pond-Deshpande Centre, and the New Brunswick Social Policy Research Network (NBSPRN).
“There’s been a negative narrative about the lack of opportunities in New Brunswick, and we want to show students that there actually are a lot of amazing opportunities,” said Karina Leblanc, Executive Director of the Pond-Deshpande Centre.
The event will be a lot like a WE Day. It will be a huge venue with thousands of students that will be given the opportunity to learn, share, pitch and be entertained.”
The first hour of the event will have four schools doing presentations to demonstrate some projects their students have already started. The second hour will allow everyone to visit more 50 exhibitors from local businesses and organizations that will show the students some of the interesting opportunities that can be found in New Brunswick.
“New Brunswick has a population challenge, and we obviously have to try a different approach to talk to young folks in New Brunswick and show them they can stay here,” said Lisa Hralbuk, founder of Wicked Ideas.
My daughter, for example, is interested in computer animation. We can show her all the different ways that her love for computer animation could be a career, and that is what My NB 150 is all about.”
Canadian comedian Candy Palmater will be making a guest appearance, as well as a musical performance from the electro hip-hop band Radio Radio.
The launch of the My NB 150 initiative is just the first step of a program that will run for the duration of 2017/18. My NB 150 will branch out across the province, and through workshops and student involvement, they hope to enforce the idea that opportunity can be found in New Brunswick despite the cynical attitude surrounding the province’s population decline.
The most important message is they are empowered to make a change,” said Leblanc, “We want them to take the inspirational messages they hear at these events, and get the confidence to get started on their own projects.”
Students, teachers, volunteers, non-profits and local businesses are encouraged to get involved in the event. “Over the school year after the launch, we will go to any school in New Brunswick that asks,” said Hrabluk.
Leblanc says the sustained enthusiasm of the students is critical to the future of the province.
“Sometimes we forget how valuable the youth demographic is to sustainability,” said Leblanc, “and we need the energy of the youth to drive innovation in our province.”