Wali Shah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wali Shah
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Shah at the 2019 CFC Annual Gala & Auction
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Wali Shah
September 9, 1994 |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Alma mater | University of Toronto (BA) |
| Occupation | Speaker Spoken Word Poet |
| Years active | 2013 – Present |
Wali Shah was born on September 9, 1994. He is a Canadian speaker, poet, musician, and someone who helps others (a philanthropist). He often talks about important topics like bullying, mental health, and making positive changes in the world. He also writes and performs special poems for his talks.
In 2014, a group called Plan Canada named him one of Canada's "Top 20 Under 20" young people. He was even the official Poet Laureate (a special poet who represents a city) for Mississauga from 2017 to 2019. In 2019, he received a Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award from Canadian Immigrant Magazine.
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Wali Shah's Early Life
Wali Shah's Muslim parents moved from Pakistan to Canada in 1997 when he was three years old. They first lived in Toronto before moving to Mississauga, Ontario. So, Wali spent some of his childhood in Toronto before settling in Mississauga.
He went to Cawthra Park Secondary School. His early years were a bit difficult. However, with help from mentors, he decided to change his life. He started working to make positive changes in his community. In June 2018, Wali Shah earned a Bachelor's degree in Sociology and Political Science from the University of Toronto's Mississauga campus.
Wali Shah's Career and Impact
Wali Shah started his career by using his talents to help others. He combines his love for poetry and music to inspire young people.
Music and Anti-Bullying Work
In 2013, Wali Shah released his first project called Rhythm & Poetry. One song from this album, "King of the Castle," talked about bullying. The music video for this song was very popular. It was used by the Peel Region District School Board and was even shown on MTV for WeDay in 2014. After this, Wali worked with the Peel Board to create another video about preventing bullying called "Change The World."
On October 2, 2014, Wali Shah performed at the 2014 We Day conference. He was featured alongside actress and musician Selena Gomez. He also freestyled (made up rhymes on the spot) with musical artist Kendrick Lamar. His "King of the Castle" music video was shown at the event and later aired on MTV Canada.
Awards and Recognition
Wali Shah has received several important awards for his work.
- In 2015, he won the 3M National Student Fellowship. This award is given to only 10 student leaders across Canada each year.
- In 2017, he became a local ambassador for the World YMCA organization. He also received the YMCA Peace Medal from the Greater Toronto chapter. Other people who have received this medal include basketball executive Masai Ujiri and mental health activist Loizza Aquino.
- On March 30, 2018, Wali Shah was chosen for the District 86 Toastmasters Communication and Leadership award.
Collaborations and Partnerships
Wali Shah has worked with many different organizations to spread his message.
- In 2016, Maclean's magazine featured him as one of the "new school of social media influencers." These are people who use their online popularity to make a real-world difference.
- That same year, Microsoft asked Wali Shah to create and perform a spoken word poem. He performed it for their World Partner Conference in August 2016 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.
- Later in 2017, Joggo Bags worked with Wali Shah, Loizza Aquino, and Diana Smendra. They launched a special JOGGO Purpose Backpack. A part of the money from these backpacks went to a Canadian charity called CARE Canada.
- Wali Shah is also an ambassador for groups like Crime Stoppers International, Bell Let's Talk, and United Way. He has helped these organizations raise over one million dollars.
- In early 2019, Wali Shah joined the board of directors for Peace of Mind Canada. This is a Canadian non-profit organization.
Inspiring Audiences
Wali Shah continues to inspire people through his speaking engagements.
- On August 7, 2019, he spoke at the Canada's Walk of Fame induction ceremony. This event honored Olympic skating champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir.
- In 2019, Wali Shah spoke at the annual WE Day Toronto event. This event was hosted by WE Charity (formerly Free The Children) at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. He later joined the lineup for other WE Day events across Canada, including in Alberta, Vancouver, and Atlantic Canada.
