The youth I have spoken to over the years have described Toronto's shelter system as a dangerous place for LGBTQ youth because of prolific homophobia and transphobia. I have heard stories of youth living in parks because they did not feel safe in the shelter system due to daily threats of homophobia and transphobia.

Acadia Solomon just wanted to swim with her friends. Unfortunately the signs posted last year at her favourite swimming spot were clear: it was not safe to swim in or drink the water. So when she heard about a group of First Nations youth walking from Winnipeg to Ottawa to speak out about the "killing" of our nation's lakes and rivers, no power in the world was going to stop her from joining them.

On April 25, 2013, renowned scientist Dr. David Suzuki attended the WFCU Centre to empower the crowd with his Wake Up Canada call. It's a campaign organized by the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition to support a day of action, encouraging kids to advocate for their environmental future through the very media that overlooked them this time around.

Raising awareness is often a good first step, and functions well as a means to an end -- but it cannot be viewed as an end in itself. Activism simply does not end with the sharing of a Facebook post or a retweet; it's great to tell your friends that something is important enough to share with them, but it's virtually meaningless if it doesn't lead to further action.

Eleven-year-old Jasmine was one of about 40 people who gathered at Canada Goose headquarters to hand-deliver 5,000 signed postcards imploring CEO Dani Reiss to stop using real real coyote fur on Canada Goose jackets and hats. Jasmine was met by security, who jumped in front of her as she approached the front door.

Would you take a 50 per cent pay cut to work on something you believed in? Two months ago, I did exactly that when I began working for Earth Day Canada. Coincidentally, I also started sleeping better at night. Because I'd rather be green than have it.

On the occasion of the International Women's Day - the determined activist, who is a currently attending the College of the Atlantic in Maine reflects on the status of activism and shares some of the wisdom learned fighting for a just cause.

Long before Mark Persaud became the Queen's Golden Jubilee medal winning activist, the noted Toronto lawyer spent many trying days as a new immigrant on the streets of Toronto, homeless. He opens up on the early days as an immigrant, his law career, why he is a patriotic Canadian and the reason why he is committed to peace and justice in Canada and abroad via the Canadian International Peace Project.