At the conclusion of Black History Month, students and staff at Cathedral High School gathered on February 27 for a school-wide assembly centred on this year’s theme, Heritage, Pride and Culture.
Organized in four acts, the program reflected on the past, examined the present and looked toward the future through student performances, historical reenactments and personal testimony.
The assembly opened with a Land Acknowledgement and Black Land Acknowledgement, followed by the instrumental version of O Canada and an instrumental performance of Lift Every Voice and Sing. A prayer, accompanied by the sound of a conch shell, set the tone for the morning.
Act 1: Exploring the Past
Students presented an excerpt from Malcolm X’s “Who Taught You to Hate Yourself” speech, followed by a reflection on the impact of oppression on Black youth and communities.
Student Jacques then delivered Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech in both French and English.
Act 2: Black History in Canada
The program shifted to key moments in Canadian history. Students reenacted the movie theatre incident involving Viola Desmond, whose refusal to leave a segregated seating area challenged racial discrimination in Nova Scotia.
They also highlighted the leadership of Jean Augustine, who introduced the parliamentary motion formally recognizing Black History Month in Canada.
Act 3: Voices of the Present
Students recognized contemporary Black trailblazers, including Sarah Nurse and Willie O'Ree, sharing notable quotations and achievements.
The assembly featured a video outlining the impact of the Graduation Coach for Black Students program. In a moment that had the auditorium laughing, students presented “Cathedral Feud,” a comedic, game show-style segment that tested knowledge of Black history.
Graduation Coach for Black Students Katrina Collins-Samuels shared:
“We are reminded that our roots are not just history — they are a foundation. They allow us to be unapologetically ourselves. We honour the past, present and look towards the future. We honour the resilience, the strength, the culture and the excellence of Black communities.”
Students also heard from guest speaker and Cathedral alumna Syntyche Tabuli, who shared her personal story of learning to love herself and being proud of her heritage:
“Your story is already valuable now. Not later, when someone gives you recognition. You’re allowed to take up space without shrinking parts of yourself to fit into rooms that were not even designed with you in mind. Your name is not too hard to pronounce, your hair is not too big, your skin is not too dark, your culture is not too much, and you’re not too much.”
Among those in attendance were Cathedral alumni Kareem Collins-Samuels, now with Waterloo Regional Police Service, who attended with his baby daughter; Nya Gathoth of Hamilton Police Service; recent graduate Shanya Samuel, a first-generation post-secondary student who earned $78,000 in scholarships to attend McMaster University; Trustee Mrs. Josie Angelini; and Superintendent of Education Brian Daly.
Act 4: Unity
The final act focused on unity. Student performances included contemporary, hip hop, step, Ethiopian, Afro and Caribbean dance.
The assembly concluded with a performance of Stand By Me by Ben E. King, performed by Syntyche Tabuli alongside members of the Black History Month committee.
Principal Kevin Monaco thanked the Black Student Union, the Black History Month committee, staff and students who organized the event.
“Moments like this matter,” he said. “Because history is not a distant or abstract idea — it lives in people. It lives in families, in cultures and in traditions — passed down, protected and carried forward. When we understand where we come from, we gain something essential: the confidence to stand tall in who we are today — fairly, proudly and without apology.”
