Craig Kielburger's WE Day event in Calgary draws 16,000 to Saddledome

Thousands of students from hundreds of Alberta schools packed Calgary's Scotiabank Saddledome Tuesday to celebrate the power of youth to change the world for the better.

WE Day was founded by international activists Craig and Marc Kielburger to spark a "movement that celebrates and inspires this generation's shift frommeto we," the event's website says.

"You can't buy a ticket toWEDay students from across the country earn their way with the actions they take on one local and one global cause of their choice," organizers say.

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About 16,000 students from 650 Alberta schools were selected to attend this year's provincial event, which features a long list of performers and inspirational speakers, including Kenyan Boy's Choir, the Grammy-winning country group, Band Perry, and actress Marlee Matlin.

"Every time I walk into theWEDaystadium I'm in awe of the commitment and passion I witness in every single one of the young people in the audience," she said in a release.

"These individuals are continuing to create such positive change in the world andWEDayis a platform to help empower youth to lead the change weneed to see."

WEDayis connected to a year-long free educational program,WESchools, which provides educational resources and campaigns to help young people turn inspiration into sustained action, the organization says.

This yearyoung people will come together in 14 stadium events across Canada, the U.S. and the U.K.

"Webelieve that, if given the right tools, today's youth can conquer anything they put their minds to. Annually, 200,000 students coast to coast, from over 10,000 schools, earn their tickets toWEDayby creating tangible benefits for their communities," Craig Kielburger saidin a release.

Kielburger gained world-wide fame as a champion in the fight against child labour after he founded Free the Children in 1995 when he was12 years old.