The Arts Incubator Celebrates Global Dignity’s 20th Anniversary and Youth Leadership Across Canada
WINNIPEG, MB — The Arts Incubator, a Winnipeg-based creative organization working across Manitoba, Northwestern Ontario and Nunavut, is celebrating the 20th anniversary of Global Dignity, a global movement that empowers youth to lead with respect, inclusion, and compassion.
Global Dignity’s twentieth anniversary was formally recognized October 9, 2025 in the House of Commons, where Giovanna Mingarelli, Member of Parliament for Prescott—Russell—Cumberland, delivered a Members’ Statement honouring Global Dignity’s 20 years of impact.
Among those recognized were long-time Global Dignity Canada volunteers from the Manitoba and Nunavut hubs: Krish Agrawal, Jamie Bell, Tony Eetak, and Eva Suluk. Their creative leadership continues to advance Global Dignity Canada’s vision through youth-driven art, storytelling, and cross-cultural collaboration.
“Every year, more than one million young people in 80 countries participate in Dignity Day, reaching over eight million people worldwide,” said Mingarelli. “On October 15, young people across Canada will celebrate with workshops, projects, and activities that highlight kindness, respect, and inclusion.”
“As a young artist, it means a lot to know that our work is part of something larger,” said Tony Eetak, another founding member of The Arts Incubator’s programming and a national role model for Global Dignity Canada. “I’ve grown up with Global Dignity activities since I was six years old. Being mentioned in the House of Commons reminds us that dignity isn’t just a word — it’s something we live, create, and share through our stories.”
Their current project for Global Dignity Day 2025, titled Where Dignity Grows, is part of a national and international collaboration commemorating Global Dignity’s 20th anniversary through the publication of 20 special short stories. Launching on October 15, the project builds on the mentorship and internship activities initiated earlier this year with support from the Manitoba Arts Council Indigenous 360 program. The project also builds on applied artificial intelligence research seeded with support from the OpenAI Researcher Access Program and the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. The collection will explore the meaning of dignity from diverse perspectives, celebrating compassion, resilience, and shared humanity through youth-driven storytelling and creative collaboration.
“It’s incredibly humbling to be recognized in Parliament alongside those who have worked to build this movement,” said Global Dignity Canada board member Jamie Bell, a founding member of The Arts Incubator Winnipeg’s program. “Global Dignity Canada has always been about empowering youth, artists and community members to lead with empathy and purpose, and it’s an honour to see that spirit celebrated on a national stage.”
For The Arts Incubator Winnipeg, the recognition reflects years of collaboration with youth, artists, and community partners in Manitoba, Ontario, Minnesota and Northern Canada, who continue to demonstrate that dignity grows strongest where creativity and community meet.
“I invite all Members of this House to join me in congratulating Global Dignity on 20 years of outstanding impact,” said Mingarelli. “Let us celebrate the voices of Canada’s youth, who remind us that dignity is the foundation of a just and compassionate society.”
About Global Dignity
Founded in 2005 by Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, John Hope Bryant, and Pekka Himanen, Global Dignity is a non-profit, non-political organization dedicated to empowering young people around the world. The movement is built on the belief that every person deserves the opportunity to live a life of dignity and purpose. Today, Global Dignity reaches and inspires millions of youth in more than 80 countries, helping to build a culture rooted in respect, compassion, and shared humanity.
For more information, visit: https://globaldignity.org
About Global Dignity Canada
Headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, Global Dignity Canada is a non-partisan nonprofit organization that works to inspire individuals—particularly youth—to recognize their own value and act with dignity in their daily lives. Through education, creative engagement, and community-based programs, it equips young people to foster inclusion, fairness, and understanding. Global Dignity Canada’s initiatives encourage a society where every person is respected, acknowledged, and empowered to contribute meaningfully.
For more information visit: https://globaldignity.ca
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