Torontonians of the Year: Tessa Hill and Lia Valente
Teenagers' move to get consent included in sex ed curriculum caught Premier Wynne's attention
Tessa Hill and Lia Valente came on Metro Morning in January to tell listeners about their campaign and petition to get consent included as part of Ontario's new sex education curriculum.
One of the listeners that morning was especially interested — Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne heard the interview and set up a meeting to consult the two Grade 8 students.
The girls, both 13 at the time, went on to make an impact in how schools in this province deal with consent with their campaign, called "We Give Consent".
"Ending rape culture is about creating a consent culture," said Valente during her Torontonian of the Year interview on Metro Morning.
Both Valente and her classmate Hill brought that very message around the province and beyond, as the campaign earned coverage from just about every major news outlet in the country.
"We had no idea going into it how big it would actually be," said Hill. A single petition she posted received more than 40,000 signatures.
"It was crazy, but also amazing."
Do you have someone you would call the Torontonian of the year? Nominate them here!