MANDELA AND THE CHILDREN
SkyDome, Toronto. (1998)
The biggest classroom in the world with Nelson Mandela and 50,000 school children. Hosted by Juliette Powell and Paul Gross. With an address by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and performances by the Ubuntu children's choir, made up of students from across Canada, by Susan Aglukark, Cirque du Soleil and others, with a special surprise appearance by one Nelson Mandela's favourite singers - Dolly Rathebe. Broadcast live by CBC and SRC and via satellite to South Africa.
Subsequently re-broadcast 4 times as part of CBC Newsworld's Christmas scheduling.
"You have made me feel like a young man again, with my batteries recharged" - President Nelson Mandela.
"When you will be my age, you will tell your grandchildren: 'I was there when Nelson Mandela came to Canada and Toronto'. " - Prime Minister Jean Chrétien addressing the crowd.
"SkyDome was packed with more than 40,000 ecstatic students and when Mandela and his wife emerged….that excitement turned electric….At one point during an hour of musical entertainment , he even rose from his seat to dance to an up-tempo South African song. It was thrilling. Mandela, a living legend was showing all of his human enthusiasm" - Toronto Star
"…the Dome rang with deafening cheers….Over the din rang the high clear voices of the Ubuntu Children's Choir singing the catchy and inspirational song 'Nelson Man-del-a'. Even in the press box there was hardly a dry eye. 'Overwhelming,' gulped one professionally cynical observer." - Toronto Sun.
"May his magic linger." - MacLean's.
"..felt more like a rock concert than a visit by a head of state….Children remained the focus throughout the rally. Politicians and other dignitaries were kept to the side of the stage, allowing students to sit in the front row as entertainment acts as diverse as Quebec's Cirque du Soleil and singer Susan Aglukark performed." - Canadian Press.