As Cloverdale Traditional School celebrated Black Excellence Day Jan. 15, several guest speakers shared personal stories with hundreds of students.

Five speakers鈥擱CMP Inspector Veronica Fox, RCMP Corporal George Amoako, RCMP Corporal Berthier Kyobela, RCMP Constable Dwight Martin, and artist Jason Bempong鈥攖ook to the mic to share their personal stories and to inspire the kids.

Fox, an officer in charge of community programs with the Coquitlam RCMP, shared her personal story of growing up in the Lower Mainland and some of the difficulties she faced. She also shared the story of her grandfather, Signalman Clyde Griffith. He was a soldier who served Canada in World War II, yet did not enjoy the same rights as other Canadians at the time.

Fox added it鈥檚 important to talk about the contributions, both current and historical, that Black Canadians have had in building the country.

鈥淭here are many lessons of courage, dedication, fortitude, and grit that we can all learn from,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hese stories have not been highlighted in the past, so it is vital that we ensure they are preserved for tomorrow by sharing them today.鈥�

Fox said it's also important to show students that they have lots of opportunities and they can obtain a job in whatever they want to do.

"They just have to work for it and put in the effort.鈥�

She was thankful to Cloverdale Traditional School for putting on the event.

鈥淚t really means a lot to see what the students are getting, in terms of a fulsome education, and other aspects that may or may not be included in the school curriculum,鈥� she said. 鈥淪ome of the kids were dancing on their way out and it just opens their eyes to a different culture than their own and it sticks with them.鈥�

Martin, a constable with the Burnaby RCMP, said it's important for students to see people who look like them in professional roles as it allows children to aspire to anything. He said multiculturalism is an interwoven fabric that binds Canada together.

"A lot of communities within Canada don鈥檛 necessarily represent the multicultural idealistic views that people should have,鈥� he explained. 鈥淪o coming to events like this shows the children that they can aspire to be anything they want to be鈥攁 doctor, a lawyer, a police officer, a firefighter鈥攖here are people that look like them in these jobs. It's good to be here to display that to the kids.鈥�

Martin added that he understands the significance of what Black Excellence Day represents. He said it offers a chance to reveal a past that often leaves Canadian Black History overlooked.

鈥淚t's important to know where we've come from in order to know where we are going and Black Excellence Day provides us with the space to acknowledge the contributions Black Canadians made despite the many obstacles they faced."

Amokao, a federal RCMP cyber and financial investigator, said he decided to join the event as a speaker to help build on the 鈥済reat work鈥� that was done at the inaugural Cloverdale Traditional School Black Excellence Day in 2024.

鈥淎s a young minority boy growing up in 性视界传媒, I didn't see many officers that looked like me,鈥� Amokao said. 鈥淚f I can inspire a young mind, especially one from a minority group to see that it's possible for them to become anything they want, then I have made a difference in giving back to our community.鈥�

Bempong, a Ghanaian-born interdisciplinary artist, said he was honoured to be able to speak to the school kids. He told them he connects with people through art and encouraged them to do the same.

鈥淚f you want to express yourself in a way that you might not have the words for, it鈥檚 always good to put it into a healthy form,鈥� he said. 鈥淔or me, I dance, and I make clothing, and I draw.鈥�

Bempong said when he was growing up, he always transformed his emotions into art.

鈥淲hen I was happy, I would draw. When I was sad, I would draw."

As part of the way he connects with people, Bempong performed a dance for the kids and elevated the Cloverdale Traditional School students into raucous cheers with his adroit dance moves.

Afterwards, Bempong was mobbed by autograph-seeking students.

Shana Vanderark, a member of the schools PAC, organized the event. She said diversity and inclusion are some of the key foundations of early education.

鈥淐elebrations and acknowledgements such as Black Excellence Day in Canada not only offer a look into Black Canadian history, but also promote empathy and compassion to cultural sensitivities.鈥�

The day allowed for students to wear black shirts, instead of their uniforms, to school. The school gym was set up with storyboards of famous Black Canadians.

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. The event was the second annual for Cloverdale Traditional School.