Era 21 breakfast unites Senators, leaders and youth
Senator Victor Oh welcomed 150 students from the Ottawa region for breakfast in the Parliamentary Dining Room to celebrate the diverse experiences and perspectives of minority groups and Indigenous peoples in Canada — and to remind young people of their potential.
For the past 12 years, the Era 21 Networking Breakfast for Young Canadians has united high school students of different cultural and socio-economic backgrounds with community leaders in the heart of Canada’s capital.
“My focus has always been helping newcomers establish themselves,” Senator Oh said. “I immigrated to Canada from Singapore in 1978, and settled with my family in Mississauga, Ontario.
“If you told me growing up that I would become a Canadian Senator, I wouldn’t have believed it.”
Senator Oh said he hoped the students would leave feeling inspired.
“There’s a world of opportunities ahead of you,” he told them. “Nothing is impossible if you work hard and stay humble.”
To prove his point, Senator Oh welcomed a lineup of heavy-hitting speakers who shared their own stories about overcoming adversity.
One panelist, Roya Shams, described her flight from Afghanistan after her father was assassinated by the Taliban. Today — thanks to the intervention of Canadian journalists — she studies at the University of Ottawa and is a vocal advocate for women’s rights.
Another panelist, University of Ottawa law professor Tracy Coates, described beating a path to higher education and empowerment despite the lingering effects of the residential school system, family difficulties and an abusive relationship.
“I really loved hearing from the students afterwards and how inspired they were to move forward,” said panelist Tracy Coates. “It’s just so valuable to learn about how different people have overcome different obstacles.”
Related articles
Tags
Committee news
Era 21 breakfast unites Senators, leaders and youth
Senator Victor Oh welcomed 150 students from the Ottawa region for breakfast in the Parliamentary Dining Room to celebrate the diverse experiences and perspectives of minority groups and Indigenous peoples in Canada — and to remind young people of their potential.
For the past 12 years, the Era 21 Networking Breakfast for Young Canadians has united high school students of different cultural and socio-economic backgrounds with community leaders in the heart of Canada’s capital.
“My focus has always been helping newcomers establish themselves,” Senator Oh said. “I immigrated to Canada from Singapore in 1978, and settled with my family in Mississauga, Ontario.
“If you told me growing up that I would become a Canadian Senator, I wouldn’t have believed it.”
Senator Oh said he hoped the students would leave feeling inspired.
“There’s a world of opportunities ahead of you,” he told them. “Nothing is impossible if you work hard and stay humble.”
To prove his point, Senator Oh welcomed a lineup of heavy-hitting speakers who shared their own stories about overcoming adversity.
One panelist, Roya Shams, described her flight from Afghanistan after her father was assassinated by the Taliban. Today — thanks to the intervention of Canadian journalists — she studies at the University of Ottawa and is a vocal advocate for women’s rights.
Another panelist, University of Ottawa law professor Tracy Coates, described beating a path to higher education and empowerment despite the lingering effects of the residential school system, family difficulties and an abusive relationship.
“I really loved hearing from the students afterwards and how inspired they were to move forward,” said panelist Tracy Coates. “It’s just so valuable to learn about how different people have overcome different obstacles.”