A SPECIAL INTEREST SECTION BY MEDIAPLANET
A SPECIAL INTEREST SECTION BY MEDIAPLANET
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social purpose Q&A with Andre De Grasse, Six-Time Olympic Medallist Canadian sprinter and Olympic gold medallist Andre De Grasse talks about giving back to the community and using his platform to inspire and empower youth. What inspired you to create the Andre De Grasse Family Foundation? Early in my career, when I was getting started in track, I benefited from mentorship and financial support that helped me progress in the sport and ultimately earn a university scholarship and graduate from the University of Southern California. As a result, I created the Andre De Grasse Family Foundation to have an enduring platform to inspire and empower young people to become champions in sports and life, similar to myself. The foundation is focused on providing access to sports, education, and health care. In addition, we work with partner organizations to remove obstacles that sometimes get in the way of young people reaching their potential.
What advice would you share with someone who wants to make a meaningful difference in society? What are a few different ways to do so? I believe in the power of reciprocal inspiration. I get energy from my fans and love to hear their stories, especially when I’ve inspired them to be active, pursue their dreams, and get through tough times. This has taught me that you can make a difference in people’s lives and that energy will push you to do more and create a bigger impact. I started by volunteering with my brother when I was a teenager. As a 16-year-old, I took public transit to a mission in Regent Park and created sports programs to keep myself and the kids there busy and away from trouble. I built friendships and started to make a difference. It was as much for me as it was for the youth in the mission. This mutual inspiration can make a difference, starting with just a few people up to the tens of millions that cheer me on at the Olympics. It’s never too early or too late to start.
I believe in the power of reciprocal inspiration. I get energy from my fans and love to hear their stories, especially when I've inspired them to be active, pursue their dreams, and get through tough times.
Read the full Q&A with Andre de Grasse at innovatingcanada.ca.
Volunteering Weaves us Together — Canadians Are Interconnected through the Act of Giving Back
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Dr. Megan Conway President & CEO, Volunteer Canada
Megan Conway
ndividual acts of volunteering matter in shaping our workplaces, our neighbourhoods, our communities, and our country. We’ve long prided ourselves as being a country of people who give back — and yet current data indicates that rates of volunteering are on the decline across the country. Fewer volunteers have returned after the pandemic despite data indicating that essential services such as food banks and shelters are in greater demand. What can we do individually and collectively to reverse this trend and why should we consider volunteering?
Volunteering is, more than ever, a critical act that helps to rebuild our communities and reconnect us to one another in small and big ways. Volunteer Canada believes in the importance of strengthening Canada’s volunteering infrastructure through cross-sectoral partnerships that contribute to building a more caring, participating, and engaged Canada. Volunteering need not be something massive or overwhelming — there are small acts we can individually take that together make a huge difference. For example, you might find ways to help an elderly or sick. Or you might
introduce yourself to the staff at a local charity and find small ways of offering your time, especially during the month of December when many organizations are challenged to meet increased need. Small acts of participation through formal and informal service make huge impacts and this investment of time and energy is needed now more than ever. Our individual acts weave together with those of other Canadians to create a stronger, more resilient, more connected Canada. We encourage you to take one small step toward volunteering and participating.
To learn more about Volunteer Canada’s work or to find a volunteer centre near you, visit volunteer.ca. This article was supported by Volunteer Canada.
BEYOND BORDERS: ADDRESSING AN EDUCATION CRISIS IN COLOMBIA LEARN MORE ON PAGES 4&5
Publisher: Katie Babiarz Business Development Manager: Sarah Ferreira Country Manager: Nina Theodorlis Production Lead: Michael Taylor Designer: Lauren Livingston Lead Editor: Karthik Talwar All images are from Getty Images unless otherwise credited. This section was created by Mediaplanet and did not involve the National Post or its editorial departments. Send all inquiries to ca.editorial@mediaplanet.com.
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