Orlando Bowen Inspires LCS Community with a Powerful Call to Action
On Thursday, December 4, Lakefield College School welcomed guest speaker Orlando Bowen for a compelling session that left a lasting impact on all who attended. Known for his focus on empowering individuals to “get off the sidelines” and make a difference, Bowen captivated the audience with a message of forgiveness, resilience, and the power of human connection.
Orlando Bowen is a highly sought-after keynote speaker whose mission is clear: to shine a light on leadership, hope, positivity, and the potential each person holds to transform their communities.
A former professional football player, Bowen’s career was tragically cut short by a life-threatening assault. Despite this, he has chosen forgiveness and dedicated his life to empowering others. Drawing from his experiences, he challenges audiences to find their passion, embrace their gifts, and use them to serve others.
During the session, Bowen held the undivided attention of every student in the room, delivering a powerful call to action that resonated with all: each person has the capacity to strive for more, overcome obstacles, and make a meaningful impact on the lives of those around them.
The impact of Bowen’s message was powerfully reflected in student responses following the session:
“Orlando was the best guest speaker LCS has had, he was so engaging and really spoke to us. I believe he really connected well and had a strong impact on the community.”
– Lola Lockhart ’26
“Orlando has such an incredible way of connecting with so many students quickly. In just a few minutes he pulled the entire school together, giving us an opportunity to share something. From screaming motivational words to the silent moments when you could hear a pin drop, I learned a lot and stayed engaged through the whole speech. In the moments, his words and stories inspired me a lot but what's even more impactful is how he can shape our student body in the future. I as a grad now have concepts he shared that I will be able to remind my house and the whole school of throughout the year when people are feeling unmotivated or down.
He was amazing and such a unique person to have the honour to hear from.”
– Jenna Quinn ’26
“Orlando’s message on gratitude really resonated with me. He reminded us that even the people we look up to, our teachers, parents, and mentors, go through difficult things, and recognizing their sacrifices matters. He also inspired us to approach everything with full effort, to ‘practice and play like your dream is on the line,’ which really stuck with me. I think everyone was VERY engaged, and he did really well with helping everyone pay attention, and not doze off. His ‘one voice, one team’ chant was the main part of that.”
– Elise Devitt ’27
“I have never witnessed a guest speaker who engaged an audience better.”
– Jay Furchet
The December Intersession session with Orlando Bowen was more than just a talk—it was a defining moment of reflection, inspiration, and empowerment for the LCS community, reminding students that resilience, connection, and purpose can truly transform lives.
School Information
4391 County Road 29, Lakefield Ontario K0L 2H0 705.652.3324 admissions@lcs.on.ca
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Lakefield College School is a private, coeducational boarding and day school for students in grades 9 through 12, located in Lakefield, Ontario, Canada.
We respectfully acknowledge that Lakefield College School is located on the Treaty 20 Michi Saagiig territory and in the traditional territory of the Michi Saagiig and Chippewa Nations, collectively known as the Williams Treaties First Nations, which include: Curve Lake, Hiawatha, Alderville, Scugog Island, Rama, Beausoleil, and Georgina Island First Nations. Lakefield College School respectfully acknowledges that the Williams Treaties First Nations are the stewards and caretakers of these lands and waters in perpetuity and that they continue to maintain this responsibility to ensure their health and integrity for generations to come.
We respectfully acknowledge that Lakefield College School is located on the Treaty 20 Michi Saagiig territory and in the traditional territory of the Michi Saagiig and Chippewa Nations, collectively known as the Williams Treaties First Nations, which include: Curve Lake, Hiawatha, Alderville, Scugog Island, Rama, Beausoleil, and Georgina Island First Nations. Lakefield College School respectfully acknowledges that the Williams Treaties First Nations are the stewards and caretakers of these lands and waters in perpetuity and that they continue to maintain this responsibility to ensure their health and integrity for generations to come.
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