Students at Cloverdale Traditional School celebrated Black Excellence Day Jan. 15.
It was the first time Cloverdale Traditional hosted an event for Black Excellence Day.
The school brought in two Black RCMP officers to speak to the kids—Inspector Veronica Fox and Constable Berthier Kyobela.
“The day allowed students to wear black shirts, instead of their uniforms, attend the library for presentations, and meet with Black officers from the RCMP,” said Shana Vanderark, one of the main organizers of the event (along with Yetunde Adeniyi). “There were books about Black history spread through the library, visual displays for (kids) to engage with, and each student was given a hand-made bracelet with the four African colours.”
Vanderark said the PAC committee had originally planned to have a big assembly in the gym, complete with drummers, and other presentations, but a fire recently rendered the CTS gym unusable for the foreseeable future.
For Fox, executive officer to the commanding officer of the B.C. RCMP, visiting the school was a very positive experience for her.
“It was refreshing to visit with the young people,” Fox said. “Their energy and positivity was infectious. The organizers obviously put a lot of time and effort into the event.”
She said it was great to be able to chat and interact with kids at the school. Fox related her own experience growing up in B.C., attending school here, and she shared what she does as part of her work with the kids.
“They were a very engaged group and asked a lot of questions.”
When she was asked to be part of Black Excellence Day at the school, Fox felt it was essential she participate. She said it’s important to her that young people receive a well-rounded education, which includes learning about the many cultures that make Canada “a wonderful place to live” for all.
“I am honoured to be able to help educate young people about Black Canadians and our contributions to our country,” she added. “As I was looking at the significant number of books set out in the library, it occurred to me that when I was of school age, I did not benefit from such positive representation, either in print or in curriculum.”
Fox noted Black Excellence Day is a good learning opportunity for young people and she thinks it would be great if the day could be expanded in the future.
Kyobela, a member of the Surrey RCMP, also thought the day went very well.
“The classroom (was) set up with profiles and summaries of prominent African and Black Canadians, civil and social rights contributors,” Kyobela said. “It was an opportunity for me, as well, to learn of the amazing contributions made towards arts, science, and civil rights.”
Kyobela and Fox spoke to two groups of students over the course of the day.
“I was impressed with the students’ knowledge when we asked them questions and their overall enthusiasm for the day,” added Kyobela. “It was clear to me, whether occurring at home or in the classroom, the students at Cloverdale Traditional are already having the right conversations.”
Kyobela said he felt it was important to take part in the event in order to help bolster education efforts.
“The African and Black community is often represented in dialogues of continued struggles—a consequence of denied participation and failed social policies,” he explained. “Therefore, for me, this was an opportunity not only to celebrate, but to normalize and to showcase the existence and ongoing contribution of Black and African Canadians within our essential services.”
Vanderark said she was honoured to be able to help organize the event at the school. She said the idea came about after another parent approached her and asked why the school didn’t celebrate Black History Month.
Vanderark noted the Anti-Racism Coalition of Vancouver hosted the inaugural Black Shirt Day in 2021. Then in 2022, the B.C. provincial government proclaimed the inaugural Black Excellence Day.
“This is the first time our school hosted such an event, with many more to come,” she added.