History

In November 2005 Orlando Bowen, former CFL linebacker (along with some fellow athletes) decided to pilot a leadership event that would engage youth and their parents both physically and cognitively.  The event was crafted to celebrate the contributions of a community champion (the late Mr. Gary White), who had been diagnosed with cancer & given 3 months to live.  Mr. White inspired everyone to give of themselves in spite of what they may be going through.  Orlando was inspired and the flame for One Voice One Team was ignited. Before the event ended, a parent asked a question that made Orlando and his friends realize that this event was fulfilling a need.  The youth within the community needed positive role models, mentors…LEADERS, and the Team was compelled to answer the call.

In 2006 at Westoak Trails School in Oakville, the first week-long camp was offered during March Break.  The camp was a huge success.   News travelled fast and the Athletic Director of McMaster University heard about the success and made some suggestions regarding the need for this type of leadership programming to be in schools.  The Team took those suggestions to heart and decided to run “Get Fit” programs in elementary and middle schools during the subsequent school year; again a huge success.  The word had spread and the demand had grown for a program that could not only engage youth but keep them invested and produce results.  In 2006 they launched a three week summer camp that served twenty-one young people.  They couldn’t stop there; calls were coming in from all over for this unique youth leadership program.

In the fall of 2007 they continued the “Get Fit” programs and launched the “Tour of Excellence” programs in schools.  In 2008 they launched their first year round school program called S.W.O.L.E.™  By the summer of 2008 they were incorporated as a non-profit organization and began a partnership with school boards in and around the GTA.  Today, 2011, One Voice One Team has grown and offers the S.W.O.L.E. program as well as other programs that cater to youth, with specialized programming for at-risk youth.

One Voice One Team has expanded their reach exponentially and is still growing.  Today they have engaged over twenty thousand students.  One Voice One Team is a federally registered charity that currently serves communities across south central Ontario, and in both public and catholic school boards.  The demand is greater now than it’s ever been and the staff is very committed to make positive changes in the lives of every youth they engage.   They believe that every young person has a voice and the leadership potential to make a productive difference within their community, city, and society.  They do this together as ONE VOICE….ONE TEAM!!