BONNYVILLE - Friends of the Lakeland are putting on a special event at the C2 in Bonnyville, featuring “Skidrow CEO” motivational speaker Joe Roberts. Roberts not only overcame childhood trauma, addiction, and homelessness, to become a CEO, but completed a 17 month long walk across Canada, while pushing a shopping cart, to fundraise and raise awareness about youth homelessness.
The event will first be directed at local high school students on March 25, but will also offer the community a chance to attend an additional public event on March 26 at 7p.m. until 8:30 p.m., free of charge.
Event organizers Judy Cabay and Sheri McCulay presented information about the event to the MD of Bonnyville council during the Feb. 25 council meeting.
Cabay explained that Friends of the Lakeland is a nonprofit, unregistered group of individuals and businesses who are coordinating the event to afford youth and the community the opportunity to be inspired by a world-renowned speaker.
“Joe Roberts delivers a message of a person's potential. From his story of childhood trauma, to the streets of Vancouver, and then changing his life to becoming a CEO of a company . . . We are planning for students from eight schools in the Lakeland region and know it will have a profound effect on them,” said Cabay.
Cabay said the challenges Roberts faced are relevant to the challenges seen in our communities and feels the event will give people the opportunity to witness a person’s ability to change and fulfil their personal potential.
As a retired RCMP Officer, McCulay spoke about her 23 years of service and how she saw the worsening of addiction and homelessness within the community. McCulay described watching Roberts speak as “life changing” and noted his ability to promote a sense of hope.
Cabay also experienced Roberts’ motivational speaking when they attended a conference he was featured at, and she told Lakeland This WEek about the lasting impression of hearing Roberts’ story.
“You could hear a pin drop,” said Cabay as she reflected on how rapt the audience was, many being brought to tears. “I felt he had a phenomenal effect on the crowd.”
Cabay feels that Roberts will have an impact on the students, and that inspiring even a small percentage of youth to avoid going down the wrong path, could help lead them to a brighter future where they can inspire others.
Coun. Josh Crick commented that he is familiar with Roberts’ work and is “100 per cent on board.”
Cabay explained that the Lakeland Credit Union is sponsoring the cost of booking Roberts as a motivational speaker, and organizers are reaching out to the community to cover the extra expenses, such as facility rental cost.
Cabay requested financial support of $2,500 to assist with the expense of booking space at the C2 and renting the necessary equipment.
Council agreed to bring the request for funding back to the March 11 meeting, so administration can determine sources of funding.
