February 21 - 22, 2019 - Calgary, AB Calgary Stampede Park

Event Report Prepared For:

2019: Soaring IndigenousYouth Empowerment Gathering

Thank you

for CP Rail’s support as a Experience Day Sponsor of Soaring: Indigenous Youth Empowerment Gathering in Calgary, AB on February 21- 22, 2019. CP Rail’s contribution helps to build brighter futures for Indigenous students!

The 2019 Calgary Soaring was attendedby over 760 Indigenous students andtheir chaperones.

About Soaring: Indigenous Youth Empowerment Gathering

The Indspire Awards and Soaring bring the inspirational stories of outstanding Indigenous achievers into the lives of youth across the country, demonstrating to these young people that any goal is achievable.

This two-day event took place in the days leading up to the Indspire Awards and featured career information and workshops, and Campus and Experience Days at the University of Calgary, Bow Valley College, Mount Royal University and the Canadian Pacific Railway. It also provided an opportunity for more than 700 students to attend the Indspire Awards.

At Soaring, First Nation, Inuit, and Métis students in grades 9-12 were able to:• Attend motivational workshops to learn

about career opportunities• Meet Canada’s top employers and

Indigenous business leaders• Learn about post-secondary education and

financial support• Discover valuable resources and

information

• Join over 1,850 guests at the

2019 Indspire Awards

The Indspiration Zone provided students with the opportunity to directly engage with employers and education institutions.

In addition, Soaring attendees received complimentary admission to theGlenbow Museum and Contemporary Calgary.

Corporate Message

Programme Advertisement

CP Experience DayHighlights

Student Comments

According to the students who attended the CP Experience day, the most interesting part of the day was:

• “The simulators, the look inside the old train, a peek inside the office space, everything overall, I had a very fun filled day. thank you!!! :)”

• “I like being able to experience a new field of a career choice and learn more about trains and the railway. I liked the lunch too.”

• “I liked most about learning about the rails and I wanna know more information.”

• “Everything was interesting”• “I liked the train sim, also the

operator station.”

Soaring Highlights

Soaring included opening and closing ceremonies with notable speakers and well-known Indigenous performers, who sharedinspirational and motivational messages.

Inez Louis (Jasper) Master of Ceremonies

Gabrielle Fayant Talent

Kelly Fraser Talent

Joey Stylez Talent

James Jones Talent

Soaring HighlightsSchool Location

Student Comments

According to the students who attended Soaring the most valuable part of the day was:• “Connecting to my culture and learning

more about my options after high school”

• “Knowing how many programs some universities have and learned that it’s okay to fail [sometimes]”

• “The most important thing I learned today was to get my high school diploma and there are so many things outside my community that I would never have learned about if I didn’t [attend Soaring]”

• “To learn about how many jobs are available to Indigenous youth”

• “Feeling important as a FNMI student, especially by building up my self-confidence”

“As the youth of Canada we are responsible for paving the future of Canada, so we have to support each other and do what we can to pave a successful future as Canadians” – 2019 Soaring participant

26%

10%

39%

25%

1%0%5%

10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%

Soaring Highlights

Attendee Demographics

61%

37%

Gender Of Soaring Participants

80%

19%

1

Indigenous Identity

57%

40%

2% 1%

Female Male Other Prefer not to respond.

80%

1%

20%

First Nation Inuit Metis

Attendee Survey ResultsSupport%

18%

40%

42%

44%

65%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

Family responsibility

Having to move from home

Fear

Having the marks

Money

Obstacles to Furthering EducationWhat will be obstacles for you going on to further your

education after graduating high school?

13%

20%

20%

22%

27%

31%

39%

44%

62%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

Support of an Elder

Community support

Cultural Support

Support of a role model or mentor

Teacher/School support

Mental Health support

Academic support

Support of friends and family

Financial Support

What forms of support will you need on your education journey?

Attendee Survey Results

Source: 2019 Soaring student survey, based on 175 respondents

of respondents plan to go on to post-secondarystudies based on what they

learned from attending Soaring

92%of respondents agree that Soaring is an important event to continue hosting for

Indigenous youth.

“My education is preparing me to go into the world with useful tools and skills.“

“I believe that these conferences help to show/inspire people to follow their dreams and to

know that they will have support and options.”

95%

Next Steps

7%

10%

13%

14%

38%

54%

60%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

Other

Go directly to work.

Still not sure.

Go on to trade school.

Go on to college.

Go on to university.

Complete high school.

After participating in today's career conference, were you inspired to:

Social Media Results

Social Media Results

Social Media Results

Thank you for supporting our efforts on social media!

Soaring Partners

Presenting Corporate Sponsor | Commanditaire principal

Regional Partner | Partenaire régional

Indigenous Youth Sponsor | Commanditaire des jeunes autochtones

Participating Sponsor | Commanditaire participant

Major Sponsors | Commanditaires majeurs

TD Securities

Exclusive Laptop Sponsor | Commanditaire exclusif des ordinateurs portables

Thanks to our generous sponsors and supporters that made this

year’s Soaring event possible for hundreds of Indigenous youth.

Lead Partner | Partenaire principal

Soaring Partners

Lunch Sponsor | Commanditaire du dîner

Supporting Sponsors | Commanditaires de soutien

Supporter | Soutien

Toronto Foundation

T-Shirt Sponsor | Commanditaire des T-Shirts Backpack Sponsor | Commanditaire des sacs à dos

Rail Travel Sponsor | Commanditaire des voyagesferroviaires

Host University Sponsors | Commanditaire et universités hôtes

Host College Sponsor | Commanditaire et collège hôte

Experience Day Sponsor | Commanditaire de la journée d’expérience

Champions of Soaring | Champions d’Essor

Soaring Partners

Workshop Sponsors | Commanditaires des ateliers

Indspiration Zone Sponsors | Commanditaires de la zone Indspiration

Exhibitor Sponsors | Commanditaires exposants

ATCO Group Banff Centre

Canadian Armed Forces Concordia University

Concordia University of Edmonton Canadian Security Intelligence Service

Humber CollegeLet’s Talk Science

Manasc Isaac McGill University

National Film Board

Parks Canada

Portage College Queen’s University Red River College

Royal Roads University Rupertsland Institute

Trent University University of Alberta

University of Saskatchewan Woman Building Futures

Thank Youfor your generous support of Indigenous students.

See you on March 5-6, 2020 in Ottawa, ON forSoaring: Indigenous Youth Empowerment Gathering!

For more information, please contact Wendy Quick, CFRE

Senior Development Officer

wquick@indspire.ca or 1.855.INDSPIRE (463.7747) ext. 233

if you would like to use any of the photos included in this report, please contact Indspire directly for photo credit information.