Stacey Kay has performed all around the world.
But there is something special about singing and speaking at the Sleeman Centre.
The Cambridge-born artist was one of four surprise guests at the 10th anniversary of Empowerment Day, an annual event hosted by Elora Public School and attended by over 5,000 students in Grades 5 to 8 with the Upper Grand District School Board.
“There’s no feeling like it,” Kay said in an interview after her set. “Adults can never give you that same energy.”
The surprise guests had something in common: all four spoke at previous empowerment days.
Kay was a guest during the 2019 event.
While she is known for her music – and her run on the TV show Canada’s Got Talent – Kay is also a motivational speaker, and had the opportunity to spread her message of body positivity and being yourself.
“The main thing that I love to drill into the crowd, the coolest thing is that we are all different shapes and sizes and colours and heights and ages,” Kay said. “If we were all the same, it would be boring.”
Kay also got to perform in front of her family, all of whom work for the school board.
“My sister’s actually in the audience as one of the adult supervisors. My mom is in the VIP box, my dad is in the VIP box. We let my nephew skip school today because he’s younger than the crowd,” she said.
“This is something my family looks forward to, as well, because it’s local but it’s the biggest stage that you could be on in Guelph.”
Also hitting the stage was Luca Patuelli, who was born with arthrogryposis, a muscle disorder impacting his legs. He was previously at Empowerment Day in 2017.
He walks with the support of crutches and is part of the dance group ILL-Abilities.
Students got to witness Patuelli break dance during his set, wowing the crowd. Break dancing – or breaking – is his specialty, and has garnered plenty of attention.
So much so, he was a judge for the Olympic qualifiers. Break dancing – or breaking – will be making its Olympic debut this summer in Paris.
His message to the students: feel empowered to use your difference as your strength.
“Every single one of us, we all have our own insecurities, we all have our limits and those are normal. But before saying no, give it a try.”
Kay and Patuelli were two of the four guests chosen by a committee, an all-star cast if you will.
Recording artist Peter Katz, as well as the ensemble Choir! Choir! Choir! entertained the crowd during the afternoon.
“We’ve had some incredible speakers over the years, including Chris Hadfield, Serena Ryder, Hayley Wickenheiser, but the messages of these individuals here are just absolutely incredible, as the others are,” said Andy Speers, an Elora Public School teacher and organizer.
“But these four speakers are special.”
So what does it mean to get called for an encore at the event?
“It’s a huge honour,” said Patuelli.
“It’s the best compliment ever,” Kay added.
