Former first lady Michelle Obama presents the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPYS at the Microsoft Theater, in Los Angeles on July 12, 2017. Michelle Obama is coming to Canada later this month to speak about education and equality for girls and women around the world. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Invision, Chris Pizzello
November 06, 2017 - 9:09 AM
TORONTO - Michelle Obama is coming to Canada later this month to speak about education and equality for girls and women around the world.
The Toronto event on Nov. 28 will be hosted by the Economic Club of Canada and Plan International Canada.
Economic Club of Canada president and CEO Rhiannon Traill says the former first lady will participate in "fireside chat-style" conversation.
She says 3,000 tickets will be sold for the event, but each buyer will purchase two tickets, with one being donated to a young person between the ages of 14 and 24.
As an example, she said if a bank buys a table for 10, five tickets will go to youth who will sit with the bank executives.
Traill says young people from across Canada who want to attend will be able to apply through a site being set up by Plan International Canada.
"The one thing I really didn't want to happen was to have a bunch of Bay Street corporate leaders only bringing their children," Traill said. "I don't think that that's inclusive and I don't think that that's fully the conversation that we need to have."
The Economic Club wants to ensure it's inviting youth from across the country and from all backgrounds, she said, adding that it will not be a watered-down conversation.
"I think that the young people in this country are prepared and a lot more eloquent and engaged than many suspect," Traill said.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2017