18 August 2016 / #Cher #Jim Watson Singer Cher among jam-packed lineup for 2016 One Young World Summit_ (Via Mayor’s office) _** Ottawa, ON **– Today, Mayor Jim Watson announced the high-profile names of world leaders from politics, entertainment, business and the community who will be attending the 2016 One Young World Summit taking place in Ottawa from September 28 to October 1, 2016. The Summit, which is considered the world’s premier global youth forum, will welcome 1,300 exceptional young leaders aged 18-30 from around the globe. Attendees will be treated to a dynamic and colourful opening ceremony, which will take place on the lawn of Parliament Hill. “One Young World 2016 marks the first time the forum will take place in Canada and we are very excited to welcome the world to our city,” said Mayor Watson. “There are still opportunities for organizations to engage with this Summit to ensure Ottawa’s top young leaders are represented. Companies and organizations can still get involved through sponsorship and visibility opportunities as well as hosting breakout sessions and even home dinners for delegates.” The line-up of distinguished One Young World Counsellors that will be speaking at the Summit and mentoring delegates includes: - Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary General - Cher, Activist and Musician - Professor Muhammad Yunus , Nobel Peace Prize Laureate - Sir Bob Geldof , Activist and Musician - Mary Robinson, UN Special Envoy for Climate - Senator Murray Sinclair, Senator and former chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission - Jon Landau, Oscar winning producer of Titanic and Avatar - Minister Marc Garneau , First Canadian in Space and Minister of Transport - Harley Finkelstein, COO Shopify - Full counsellor list available at [ www.ottawatourism.ca/OYWmedia ](http://www.ottawatourism.ca/OYWmedia) https://twitter.com/JimWatsonOttawa/status/766278724836855812“Hosting One Young World is a real feather in Ottawa’s cap,” said Michael Crockatt , President and CEO of Ottawa Tourism. “Showcasing our innovative and exciting city to such a diverse group of current and future leaders is an honour, and to be able to incorporate Parliament Hill, one of the most recognizable symbols of Canada, is particularly special.” The One Young World Summit Opening Ceremony ** ** on the lawn of Parliament Hill on September 28, 2016 will showcase Canada’s diverse culture, a 196-nation flag ceremony as well as One Young World Counselors, community leaders and senior government leaders. One Young World’s Canada Director, Antoine Pouliot remarked “One Young World is excited to be coming to Canada for the first time this fall, with our best-ever lineup of high-profile Counsellors and what promises to be a world-class opening at one of Canada’s most cherished landmarks. Young leaders are the centre of so many of the changes making our city into the vibrant, innovative and diverse capital that it is.” Over 100 blue-chip companies have made One Young World an integral part of their development of global talent and corporate social responsibility initiatives, with companies increasing the size of their delegations each year. With AB Inbev and Barclays as strategic partners, One Young World 2016 will also feature an A-Z of companies including Coca-Cola , Deloitte, Ernst & Young, Facebook, Google, Janssen, KPMG, L’Oreal, Siemans , Telefonica , Unilever, Volkswagen and Westpac. Ottawa Tourism thanks the members of its One Young World Advisory Board, Local Organizing Committee and especially those companies and organizations which are hosting breakout sessions and/or which have committed to sponsoring the Summit, including Destination Canada; its Canadian Advisory Partner, KPMG; EY; and Microsoft Canada . “Destination Canada is also pleased to support One Young World 2016 in Ottawa,” says David Goldstein, President & CEO of Destination Canada. “We know that these young leaders from around the world are drawn to Canada’s vibrant cities, cultural attractions and welcoming people. We encourage delegates to take some time to explore what Canada has to offer.” Ottawa was chosen to host One Young World because it is a leading global capital that knows the value of young leaders. A challenge has been extended to the Ottawa community to ensure that 30 of its top young leaders will represent Canada's capital at the Summit. Local businesses and organizations are encouraged to attend, or to support the attendance of local delegates. To learn more, e-mail [ OYWdelegates@ottawatourism.ca ](mailto:OYWdelegates@ottawatourism.ca) to ensure Ottawa’s top young stars will represent at the 2016 One Young World Summit. ** About One Young World **Founded by David Jones, founder of You & Mr. Jones, and Kate Robertson former Global President, Havas Worldwide, the annual One Young World Summit is a unique event that offers international decision makers powerful insight into where our world may be heading. Since its inception, One Young World has hosted over 7,000 delegates between the ages of 18-30. No youth-dominated event other than the Olympic games represents as many countries as One Young World does. The reach of the event is exemplified as 8.9 million people have already been positively affected by delegate-led initiatives. More specifically, One Young World ambassadors are directly responsible for: ● Immunising 1-in-3 children worldwide ● Providing 94 million meals in 63 countries ● Catalysing the first LGBT+ movement in Iraq ● Founding the first rape crisis centre in Somalia ● Supporting 10,000 health workers in 23 countries ● Delivering free healthcare to 5,000 people in Oman ● Educating over 80,000 people during the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone The key areas of focus at the 2016 Summit in Ottawa will include: ● Education ● Global Business ● Health ● Human Rights ● Peace and Security ● Environment ● Indigenous Reconciliation To date, Summits have taken place in London (2010), Zurich (2011), Pittsburgh (2012), Johannesburg (2013), Dublin (2014) and Bangkok (2015). For more information about the Summit, please visit: [ www.oneyoungworld.com ](http://www.oneyoungworld.com/) or follow @ OneYoungWorld or @ OYWOttawa For more information on City programs and services, visit [ ottawa.ca ](http://ottawa.ca/) or call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-9656). You can also connect with us through [ Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/cityofottawa) , [ Twitter ](https://twitter.com/ottawacity) and [ Instagram ](https://www.instagram.com/cityofottawa/) .