THUNDER BAY – Jayda Jeremiah believes the Wake the Giant initiative is having a positive impact on students coming to Thunder Bay.
“It’s making everybody that’s new to the school welcome to Thunder Bay, to meet new people,” said the Grade 11 Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School student. “I’m happy that everybody gets a chance to be welcomed.”
The high school on Friday hosted the DFC Experience, a second day of this week’s Wake the Giant orientation to prelude Saturday’s music festival.
More than 250 students, including those attending DFC as well some enrolled with the Lakehead District School Board and others visiting from remote northern communities, had the opportunity to participate in more than 15 different activities and workshops, including sports, art, screen printing and Science North.
Thunder Bay musician Coleman Hell, who skyrocketed to international fame with hit songs like 2 Heads and Fireproof, hosted a special afternoon workshop with London, Ont.-based musician Wolf Saga.
Hell, who will be performing on Saturday, said the event was a perfect reason to come back to his hometown.
“It’s showing an example of someone coming from a community like this, having a dream and making it a reality,” Hell said. “You just need to be passionate, work hard and work together with people that have similar goals.”
Johnny Saga, who adopted Wolf Saga as his stage name, made his first trip to Thunder Bay but said he would love to do something in the future with the students.
“The main goal this weekend for me is to inspire and show them that anybody can do anything they want to, because honestly I have no training or anything but somehow I’m here in this spot where I can play music for a living,” Saga said.
Hayden Johnston, a recent Top Chef Canada contestant who hails from Thunder Bay, led cooking workshops throughout the day after the Feed The Giant fundraiser on Thursday night.
Matthew Tilbury, the school’s transition coordinator, said the event provided an opportunity to highlight regular partnerships and for students to meet some potential new role models.
“I think it’s great for them to see people coming out of Thunder Bay who have been very successful in the field they chose,” Tilbury said.
