The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Jonathon Naylor Editor A pair of Hapnot Collegiate students have used their musical talents to join the global fight for female equality. Callum Spencer and Jayde Clendenning were chosen to help produce a song and video for the Manitoba Council for International Cooperation (MCIC). 'I really want it to just get watched a lot,' says Spencer, a Grade 11 student. 'That'd be kind of cool. It'd be kind of neat to see it hit a pretty high number (of online views).' Unbreakable, a song about the importance of the empowerment of women and girls, was written and performed by eight high school students from across the province. Its accompanying three-minute video was also produced by the teens, hitting YouTube on Feb. 6 and the Manitoba legislature shortly thereafter. Spencer and Clendenning applied to become part of the production after learning about it from their band teacher, Anna Jardine. Both were immediately drawn to the cause. 'People think it's a man's world when it's not,' says Clendenning, a Grade 9 student. 'Women have equal rights and freedoms and we don't deserve to be treated as property. We're just as able as men.' Hurdles Clendenning says that while inequality between the sexes is more of a problem in overseas countries like Afghanistan, there remain hurdles for women in Canada. She gave the nation's political system as an example, pointing out that it is still dominated by men. For his part, Spencer says he 'definitely' sees inequality for women as an issue in Canada. In school he has learned how women's salaries remain lower than those of men. 'And the percentage is way out of whack,' he says. 'Women are almost doing more work than men and men are still making way more money. Way more. Not fair at all.' MCIC selected Spencer, Clendenning and six other teens out of a pool of 20 applicants. In December, the eight teens gathered in Winnipeg, where they took in presentations on the plight of women. In January, they returned to the capital city to record the song and video. Two days after its YouTube launch, Unbreakable was played by Premier Greg Selinger at the Manitoba Legislature. It was also heard on CBC Radio. See 'I...' on pg. 6 Continued from pg. 1 The instrumental work of both Spencer, who plays drums and guitar, and Clendenning, who plays saxophone and bass, are heard. Spencer also has a vocal solo, while Clendenning sang as part of the group. 'I'm really into music, so I just thought it'd be kind of a fun thing to do,' says Spencer. 'The fact that it was for a good cause, that was pretty interesting as well.' As of last week the video was approaching 1,900 views on YouTube, a number that pleases Sumeep Bath, spokesperson for MCIC. 'We've had nothing but positive feedback,' says Bath from his Winnipeg office. Bath notes the video was created to help commemorate International Development Week, held Feb. 5-11. He calls it 'a fun way to get people involved in the issues.' 'Empowerment' 'The kids themselves...were really quite invested in the theme of the empowerment of women and girls,' adds Bath. For Clendenning, the video may be a prelude of things to come. After high school, she plans to attend university and pursue a career in music, such as a band teacher or a composer. Spencer is less sure what he will do after graduation, but expects he will enroll in some sort of post-secondary institute. No matter their futures, both teens can always take pride in the fact that when a vital global concern reared its head, they helped answer the call.
