WINNIPEG, MB - Tonight Mayor Sam Katz presented a Key to the City to former President of the Soviet Union and Nobel Peace Laureate Mikhail Gorbachev and to Free The Children ambassador and Me to We Speaker Spencer West.
"Tonight, the City of Winnipeg pays tribute to two very special guests," said Mayor Katz at a dinner celebrating Free The Children's We Day Manitoba, which takes place tomorrow at the MTS Centre. "They come from opposite sides of the world, but they have a common lesson to teach - a lesson about human dignity and possibility."
Mikhail Gorbachev was awarded the Nobel peace award for his leading role in the peace process. He is known for bringing a new spirit of openness to the Soviet Union. He continues to work for peace, economic development, greater democracy, and the environment through his own Gorbachev Foundation and through Green Cross International.
Spencer West is an ambassador for Free The Children, the international charity and educational partner founded by brothers Marc and Craig Kielburger to empower youth to create local and global change. With humility and sincerity, Spencer captures audiences immediately with his story about overcoming the loss of his legs at the age of five.
Spencer set out to inspire others and redefine what's possible through his recent conquest of Mount Kilimanjaro. From rainforest, to desert, up the steepest slopes, Spencer, with support from his two best friends and guides, reached the summit of the tallest mountain in Africa. The money he raised from this challenge, more than half a million dollars, has been donated to support clean water projects in Free The Children's developing communities overseas. He continues to seek ways to inspire others to action.
In presenting Mikhail Gorbachev and Spencer West with individual Keys to the City, Mayor Katz thanked the two men for redefining what's possible and helping us see the scope for positive action in the world.