What it Means to Be a Young Canadian: Lessons in Dance, Leadership and Kindness

At just 17 years old, Calgary-born-and-raised Ashlynn Smith has already spent nearly half her life with the Young Canadians. Now a senior dancer, she is stepping into her final years with the company, reflecting on a journey that has been about much more than rehearsals and performances.

Ashlynn first laced up her dance shoes at age two, following in the footsteps of her older sisters. Her path to the Young Canadians began unexpectedly after her parents attended one of the Calgary Stampede’s iconic Grandstand Shows and host Dave Kelly encouraged the audience to audition. “My mom believed out of the whole 20,000 people watching, he was only talking to her about me,” Ashlynn laughs. “She came racing home and told me I had to audition.”

Seven years later, she balances her life around training. The season includes technique classes two days a week and choreography on weekends, as well as workshops and community performances. As Stampede approaches, training ramps up and the hard work leads to 10 unforgettable nights of the Grandstand Show presented by Freedom Mobile. 

Being a Young Canadian has given Ashlynn perspective on teamwork, leadership and character. “We spend so many hours together that you have to figure out how to work through challenges respectfully,” she explains. Those lessons have shaped her into not just a stronger performer but a more compassionate person. 

For new dancers, Ashlynn aspires to be the kind of mentor she once looked up to, offering advice drawn from her own early experiences: “Don’t be as shy as I was. I stayed in one corner and never branched out. Now I wish I would have stepped up for that one role or stood in the front for that one class. Take as much as you can [from the experience], immerse yourself in it and just go with it.”

This summer, Ashlynn received the Jesara Nichol Memorial Award, given for kindness and positivity. It was proof of something she’s always believed: “Being a kind person pays off. Smiling at someone, making them a cupcake on their birthday – little things like that really matter.”

She hopes others see that talent and kindness can go hand in hand. “You can be a great dancer and leader and still be a nice person. It can be a positive experience.”

As she looks ahead to university, where she hopes to study psychology and social work, Ashlynn knows her time with the Young Canadians will continue to influence her. “I think this experience will always stay with me even if I don’t dance every day like I do now.” 

The Young Canadians were first featured in the Calgary Stampede Grandstand Show in 1968. Supported by the Calgary Stampede and the Calgary Stampede Foundation, the Young Canadians School of Performing Arts is a program designed to develop confident, strong and empowered youth, ages 8 to 21, through dance, voice and performance.