DG Report March 2024

For me, a change in season is always cause for celebration, but the official arrival of Spring was not the only reason to celebrate this month. March was filled with many joyful moments, some of which I will highlight in this report.

On March 10th, I proudly represented the Lester B. Pearson School Board at the Caribbean Taste of Tea celebration hosted by Playmas Montreal, an organization that promotes multiculturalism through art and celebrates Montreal’s Black community. Held at the crossroads of Black History Month and International Women’s Month, the main event at this afternoon tea party was to elevate and recognize six remarkable Black women with the Playmas Women of Merit Award. This distinction is intended to honour women’s contributions to education and for promoting Black excellence.

I am pleased to share the news that two of this year’s honorees are leaders from within the Lester B. Pearson community. The first recipient, Wusua Mitchell, is presently Principal of LaSalle Community Comprehensive High School. Ms. Mitchell was recognized for her vision and contributions as an educational leader at both the elementary and secondary levels. Throughout her impressive career, she has championed equity and diversity for all.

The second recipient, Sabi Hinkson, is a math and science teacher in the Connections Program at the Pearson Adult and Career Centre in LaSalle. She is presently working toward a doctorate in the Department of Integrated Studies at McGill and is researching ways to counter the underrepresentation of Black youth in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math fields of study. Ms. Hinkson was also a member of our groundbreaking 2021 Task Force on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity.
Congratulations to Principal Mitchell and Ms. Hinkson for this well-deserved recognition.

This tea party also featured local students who are part of the GemStar Circle of Excellence Program, a program that offers mentoring and scholarships to high-achieving grade 11 students in Montreal. Again, it was a celebratory moment to meet this year’s group of Gemstar students, some of whom come from Beurling Academy, Lakeside Academy, LCCHS, and St. Thomas, all LBPSB high schools. Congratulations to our soon-to-be graduates who were selected for this program based on their academic achievement, community involvement, and desire to pursue post-secondary education.

The following Sunday, I joyfully participated in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Once again this year, Lester B. Pearson was invited to enter a float in the parade, and the crowds lining the streets were entertained by our Terry Fox Elementary School Band. I am happy to share the news that for the second year in a row, our School Board was designated as the Best Amateur float by the parade judges. The weather was decent, the crowds were welcoming, and our student musicians played their hearts out. I wish to thank Principal Doug Stewart, music teacher Corey Craigmyle, and the Terry Fox students and their parents for coming out and making it such a fun afternoon. I also extend my appreciation to our teams in Equipment Services and Communications and Community Development for all of the behind the scenes work to make this experience possible. You will see pictures commemorating this day in the March issue of the Pearson News, so please keep your eyes peeled for a sea of smiles and green leprechauns!

On March 22, I was treated to an evening of high caliber entertainment, courtesy of John Rennie High School, which held their annual Black and Gold variety show. Fun fact; JRHS has been hosting this show since the 1950’s, and this year’s show did not disappoint. A supremely talented group of students and staff showcased their artistic talents, with dance numbers ranging from ballet to hip hop and live musical acts paying tribute to disco, hard rock and folk eras of music. There was even a surprise prom-posal that found its way into the show.

The Black and Gold event was was also a moment to commemorate our school board’s silver anniversary; the show began with greetings from our 25th anniversary co-chairs, Felicia Parillo and Bradley Heaven. Both also happen to be John Rennie alumni, and it was a sweet moment for them to return to their alma mater, see former teachers, and enjoy an evening of stellar entertainment. A poignant moment came when Felicia Parillo who currently works at Global News, took a moment to publicly thank the director of the show, JRHS teacher Huntley Addie, for encouraging her to pursue a career in journalism and instilling confidence in her abilities. Congratulations to John Rennie on another successful run!

I am frequently asked what I do as a Director General; people often assume it is a role filled with nothing but negative elements – big problems to solve, upset people to soothe, and bureaucracy to battle. And while I will admit that these things can be a part of the job sometimes, the bigger and more satisfying part of the role is to contribute to this wonderful world of education and participate in these moments of joy and celebration.

My final words of celebration this evening are reserved for those who are currently observing or preparing to observe occasions such as Nowruz, Ramadan, Easter and Passover. I extend my warmest wishes to all students, families, and staff who are or soon will be celebrating these special holidays. As a school board that has made firm commitments regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion, we include dignity, compassion, and respect as ways to value our differences and wish each other warm greetings in these times of celebration.