Global Dignity Day 2015 - Mrs. Universe 2015 Ashley Callingbull

Ottawa, October 21, 2015 - Today, thousands of students across Canada joined 400,000 of their peers, in over 60 countries, in celebration of the international day to empower youth with dignity, Global Dignity Day.

This year’s celebration of Global Dignity Day in Canada, hosted by 1125@Carleton, at Carleton University, connected students and young leaders from Kitiganzibi High School and Carleton University, with 2,000 students from coast-to-coast through a live international videoconference.

Highlights of today’s event included a throat singing performance from Arviat, Nunavut, and dignity stories from Rwandan Genocide survivor and public speaker, Emery Rutagonya, and Global Dignity Canada’s National Role Model, Ashley Callingbull (recently named Mrs. Universe).

“I think [Global Dignity Day] is so important because we should always be proud of who we are,” Mrs. Callingbull said in a video released today for Global Dignity Canada.

“The only thing that’s important is how we feel about ourselves, and the life we lead.”

Approximately two minutes in length, the video is now available online and can be shared in classrooms and youth centres across the country.

Global Dignity is an independent, non-profit, non-political organization focused on empowering young people with dignity. Established in 2005 by HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Operation HOPE Founder John Hope Bryant and respected Finnish professor Pekka Himanen, it aims to inspire respect, self- esteem and tolerance of diversity, as well as promote the idea that every human being has the universal right to lead a dignified life. Visit our website at: www.globaldignity.ca.