Kids are often thought of as synonymous with innocence and carefree attitudes on life, but that is not always so, as Canadian illustrator, author and speaker Janet Wilson found out in her work while documenting child activism and teaching kids about standing up for a

Groups of John Mahood students had the chance last week to hear her speak on the subjects of her work: Canadian youths and children who have made significant impacts on their communities through activism.

“I’ve always spoken to kids, but it was mostly about illustration and drawing and the creative process of making a picture book. When I started writing there was an immediate difference in the interest level of kids: they were very fascinated to hear these stories of what other kids were doing.

In 2007 Wilson began to combine writing with her illustrations to create books on child activism in Canada. Her first book, “One Peace: True Stories of Young Activists,” was released in 2008. She also authored and illustrated the award-winning book “Our Earth: How Kids are Saving the Planet” and “Shannen and the Dream for a School,” which she discussed with students during her presentation April 5.

Shannen Koostachin was a resident of Attawapiskat in Northern Ontario and in 2008 she headed a youth- and student-driven effort to build a proper school in the area. The Cree community she was part of had been fighting for a new school since 1979 when an oil spill closed the original school building, forcing the kids to use portables instead. Koostachin was part of a group of Attawapiskat Grade 8 students who launched the Students-Helping-Students campaign against the Ministry of Indian Affairs. The ministry eventually relented, but Koostachin would not see the school built. After leaving her community to attend high school, she was killed in a car crash in 2010.

“Because of the children’s actions they are getting a new school. It was the largest child-lib rights movement in Canadian history. And leaders and parents and teachers were all trying for years and years and years to get justice and it was only when the kids stood up that they started to pay attention,” Wilson told the Elmira students.

When Wilson began to speak to students about activism, she saw their interests pique, she said after the presentation.

“It wasn’t on their radar but that’s when activism really started to blossom. Starting with Craig because he was one of the first child activists in Canada and he inspired a lot of other children,” she said of Craig Kielburger, who founded the international charity Free the Children in 1995 when he was 12 years old.

At the end of the presentation, John Mahood students were treated to a peek at Wilson’s new book. Students were some of the first to hear a passage from “Our Rights: How Kids are Changing the World,” which is set for release this year.