America Wild. The name of a movie, a metaphor for the star!

 IT HAPPENS ON THURSDAY MORNING JUNE 6TH

Now in its 11th year, the Walk with Excellence is an annual event that celebrates the achievements of graduating students from high schools in Toronto’s Jane and Finch community. Signifying the beginning of their journey to post-secondary education, the event – taking place this year on Thursday, June 6 – will see over 500 graduating students walk from five local high schools onto York University’s Keele Campus.

The students’ supportive teachers and administrators will be cheering them on along the way, and all York University community members are invited join in welcoming the students onto the Keele Campus in true York U style.

“The Walk with Excellence signals new beginnings and a new season,” said Itah Sadu, founder of the Walk with Excellence and a York University honorary degree recipient. “Walking with the graduating students in this annual urban rite of passage is pure joy.”

Organized by a coalition of community partners – including the York University-TD Community Engagement Centre, local school principals and high-school leaders, the Blackhurst Cultural Centre and A Different Booklist – the Walk with Excellence will feature brief musical performances from each participating high school, remarks from community leaders and Toronto poet laureate Lillian Allen reading a poem she wrote specifically for the event. Organizers look forward to presenting several bursaries this year, generously funded by CUPE Local 4400/Toronto Education Workers, Blackhurst Cultural Centre and York University.

I took this picture at the start of last year's parade.  Feel free to use

 Thursday June 6th, 2024 

·    Kick-off at C.W. Jefferys at 10 AM

·    Parade from CW Jefferys to York University 11 AM - 12 PM RAIN OR SHINE

·    Lunch and Bursaries Ceremony 12 - 1 

·    Event conclusion  at York University - 2 PM

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Who: All are welcome to celebrate this year’s grade12 graduates from CW Jefferys.  Westview, Emery, Downsview, and the students of James Cardinal McGuigan be joining the 2024 Walk With Excellence 

Details: The Kick-Off begins at CW Jefferys High School with a round of exciting student presentations. Following this the 500 plus students will head outdoors and walk, dance and march to York University where student awards and celebratory lunch will be shared. The list of adults attending:  This year'sparade will include the Director of the Toronto District School Board, Collen Russell-Rawlins and guests from former years. Special presentation by Shon Williams former Walk alumni and Downsview student.  

Available for interviews - Grade 12 students graduating from the Jane/Finch high schools. Teachers. Principals. Volunteers, joyful parents and Community members. 

FREE Parking is available at CW Jeffreys. There is parking at York University as well.

Background 

 

The Walk With Excellence (WWE) is an annual event organized by the Blackhurst Cultural Centre, the local Jane Finch/Black Creek High Schools, York-TD Community Engagement Centre (CEC), and the Toronto District School Board. 

Each year over 500 graduating High School students participate from five high schools (Westview, Emery, Downsview, CW Jefferys and James Cardinal.  The WWE celebrates the achievements of these high school graduates and culminates with a parade into York University, symbolizing an urban rite of passage, as students transition from secondary to post-secondary education. The parade is an emotional public demonstration of student achievement and academic excellence

Contact:

Stephen Weir Publicist - sweir5492@rogers.com

416-589-5868/416-801-3101cell

Itah Sadu - Organizer/founder

Blackhurst Cultural Centre

sadu.itah@gmail.com

(647) 521-7874