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Strengthening the relationship between northern and southern communities and leading Toronto's Inuit Youth Programs, Joshua shares his personal journey seeking ways to preserve traditional Inuit knowledge and contemporary Inuit experience.

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Duane studied at York University and graduated with an honours English degree in 2001. After graduation, he created a school tour program, Stay Driven, to educate students on equity and inclusion, anti-violence, peer pressure, leadership and working at peak performance.

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Every February we learn about Black History but too often we focus on the same things.

It's important to know about historic and inspirational heroes such as Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks, but we also need to dig deeper and learn more about inspirational leaders from Canada.

Our Black History presentation specializes in Black Canadian History. I talk about Viola Desmond who stood up for her rights by sitting down at a movie theatre in Nova Scotia. In 2018, she will be on the ten-dollar bill.

I talk about freedom fighter Josiah Henson - a slave that travelled the Underground Railroad for freedom in Canada, became a land owner, and helped other free and empower other blacks. The presentation is interactive and I get the students rapping along to a negro spiritual. I play a music video about Black Canadian achievements. Finally, I call upon volunteers to play a game of "name that tune" to highlight black music contributions.

Black History Month Presentation

*Please note that this is an elementary k-5 school show that we filmed. The presentation works at middle and highschools as well and is tailored to the audience.

Black History Music Video

Now booking for 2017-18!

It's 2017 and we are looking forward to visiting more schools and reaching more youth.

We've made a few new additions... new brochure, new videos, new references... feel free to contact us with any questions,
Click here to download new brochure
Stay Driven EPK

Highschool and In The Zone EPK

New D.O. song "Follow Me" - where I get to play a teacher!

We've added a few video clips from a Stay Driven Highschool performance.

Check it out:

I'm excited to add a new presentation that focuses on Mental Health.

This is a subject that I have been asked about a lot over the last few years.

The program will address early warning signs and provide tips and solutions in an entertaining and educational way.

"You went to my sons school today in Toronto. I want to thank you from the bottom of My heart for your positive influence on my Kids. They came home listening to your songs and saying that you were nice and you taught about bullying. My sons have been bullied in that school. It's been an ongoing battle.

Thanks for dedicating yourself to serious and crucial topics. Such as bullying and self esteem. I appreciate you. Thank you
For being amazing. Thanks so much"

- parent from school in TCDSB, May 15 2015

I had the pleasure of connecting with the legendary Fred Penner on this video. It's a remix of my original "I Stand Up" song which features a strong anti-bullying message.

Welcome to Stay Driven

I am excited for the upcoming 2015-16 school tour!

My name is Duane Gibson (though most of my friends call me D.O.) and I am Guinness World Record setting rapper and University graduate that is committed to inspiring youth.

Over the last ten years I have visited hundreds of school and had the opportunity to speak in front of hundreds of thousands of youth.
Click HERE to download the Stay Driven Brochure
"I enjoyed the presentation and was impressed at the rapt attention of every student in the gym. Your style is professional yet personal and the message very clear. The advice you give is important for preadolescents whose attitudes and values are just being formed."

Gayle Stucke, Director of Education, Lambton Kent District School Board

"You did a fantastic job with the youth. Words cannot express how touched we were by your performance and what an awesome job you did connecting the concept of the race with their lives. In working with this group of youth over the last year, I have NEVER seen them all so engaged and excited about something. You are, in fact, still the talk of the town with these kids. They can't get enough of you and just keep sharing stories."

"I am a teacher with the Peel board and my students had the opportunity to see your show on Friday. I teach a behaviour class and have one student who faces a unique set of challenges . Sometimes he is difficult to motivate. He was moved by your performance and is suddenly inspired in a way I have not seen in him before. He is very musical and because of your show, he is enthusiastic about expressing himself through writing music and songs. I know he spoke to you after the show and he has not stopped talking about it since. I just wanted to write to you to thank you for being such an inspiration to students and for making a difference."
- Teacher, Kingswood Drive, Brampton

Thank you Duane. The presentations this morning were amazing. The students really enjoyed themselves. Best wishes future... Our students really need someone like you to see that success can be achieved... The hunger for positive role models soo needed.

Bertha Cummins, Teacher, Sunny View Middle School, Brampton Ontario

Educators continue to recommend Stay Driven!

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Every February we learn about Black History but too often we focus on the same things. It's important to know about historic and inspirational heroes such as Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks, but we also need to dig deeper and learn more about inspirational leaders from Canada.

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Our Story

In March of 2016 we became recepients of Trillium's Youth Opportunities Fund, a part of the larger provincial framework called Stepping Up: Improving Youth Outcomes. This program is a unique relationship between our youth - led initiative, the provincial government, and our mentoring organization Tungasuvvingat Inuit.

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In March of 2016 we became recepients of Trillium's Youth Opportunities Fund, a part of the larger provincial framework called Stepping Up: Improving Youth Outcomes. This program is a unique relationship between our youth - led initiative, the provincial government, and our mentoring organization Tungasuvvingat Inuit.

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Rodrigo Chavez

This is a practical and interactive “hands-on” drumming workshop directed and adapted to students and teachers of different disciplines. Participants acquire a rich musical vocabulary by understanding other cultures, new and old forms of expression.  These workshops have been designed to give the participants a basic knowledge on the conga drums, bongos, timbales, maracas, guiro and cowbells as well as a selection of different Latin rhythms.

It is a collective experience since, traditionally, Afro-Latin rhythms were played by large groups of Africans and native people. By taking their wisdom, history and art into the drum-circle, we can involve now the whole group into learning and performing some of these beautiful rhythms.

RHYTHMS

Salsa, Bolero, Cha-cha-cha, Conga, Rumba, Bemebe (CUBA) / Samba, Batucada, Olodum (BRAZIL) / Merengue, Bachata (DOMINICAN REPUBLIC) / Cumbia (COLOMBIA) / Calypso, Soca (TRINIDAD), Parranda (VENEZUELA), Festejo, Lando (PERU)

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All instruments are provided by the instructor: bongos, congas, shakers, maracas, cowbells, bass drums, guiros, claves and timbales. Enough for the whole class!! Singing and dancing are also part of the workshop as well as the historical background and legends of the particular countries and traditions to be studied.

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The KAIROS Blanket Exercise is an interactive learning experience that teaches the Indigenous rights history we’re rarely taught. Developed in response to the 1996 Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples—which recommended education on Canadian-Indigenous history as one of the key steps to reconciliation, the Blanket Exercise covers over 500 years of history in a one and a half hour participatory workshop.

Blanket Exercise participants take on the roles of Indigenous peoples in Canada. Standing on blankets that represent the land, they walk through pre-contact, treaty-making, colonization and resistance. They are directed by facilitators representing a narrator (or narrators) and the European colonizers. Participants are drawn into the experience by reading scrolls and carrying cards which ultimately determine their outcomes. By engaging on an emotional and intellectual level, the Blanket Exercise effectively educates and increases empathy. Ideally, the exercise is followed by a debriefing session in which participants have the opportunity to discuss the experience as a group. This often takes the form of a talking circle.

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This is "Welcome to the Blanket Exercise" by KAIROS Canada on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

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Da-giiwewaat (so they can go home) is a national campaign to raise awareness about child apprehension impacting Indigenous children in Canada. Through education and citizen action our goal is to eradicate racism and bring children home to their families and communities  The organization calls on everyone to get involved and help make 165,000* moccasins for Indigenous children affected by the child welfare system of Canada!

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Kim Wheatley is an Anishinaabe (Ojibway) band member of Shawanaga First Nation. She is Turtle Clan and a proud grandmother of 2 granddaughters and mother of 3 daughters.

Kim’s love of Indigenous hand drumming and singing and Anishinaabe traditional teachings defines her life journey and is always the framework of interaction that shapes her worldview. She is deeply committed to creating and promoting awareness of the Indigenous perspective utilizing her gifts of song, storytelling and Traditional teachings.

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Pow Wow, Kim Wheatley, Mississaugas, New Credit, Hagersville, Rootz Reggae Radio

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La Bastringue - Édith Butler (with lyrics / avec paroles)

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“My heart lies in Africa/My spirit thrives in Canada/ My soul dreams of India” Sheniz speaks to her multicultural background, performing pieces that highlight the various cultures and traditions that make her who she is while providing an opportunity for students to reflect upon and celebrate their own diverse backgrounds and find strength in diversity.

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TEDxYouth@Toronto - Sheniz Janmohamed (Spoken Word)

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Artists of Calligraphy (Funded by Consulate of Korea) & Traditional Dress of Korea with TaeEun Kim and Subin Moon.

In these workshops, students learn the importance of the art of calligraphy over the centuries in Korea.

In the Korean Traditional Hanbok, students learn about its origin and take part in an interactive activity learning to wear the Hanbok.

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The complex geometry of Islamic design - Eric Broug

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The aim of the Aga Khan Museum is to offer unique insights and new perspectives into Islamic civilizations and the cultural threads that weave through history binding us all together. As a centre of education and of learning, the Aga Khan will be providing interactive workshops with artefacts and activities to learn about the diversity across the Islamic world and through the Silk Trade.

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Learn French through Traditional French Music and Dance with Bill Russell, Chris Rawlings and Peter Jellard .

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Mes Aïeux  Dégénération à la Fête Nationale du Québec