By Robin Andrews Morton

The annual commencement ceremony at Sir Oliver Mowat C.I. was held on Friday, November 3. This event sees graduates return to the building they spent the previous four years in; it’s a night for  celebration and catching up with friends.

This year faculty were thrilled to announce Madison Wong as the recipient of the Centennial Community Recreation Award, presented to a graduating student who best exhibited a spirit of community involvement and co-operation in the community.

Throughout her four years at Mowat, Madison was actively involved in the school, the community and the country. In Grade 9, she joined our Student Advisory Council and was a member up until her Grade 12 year when she was SAC co-president. Over the years, Madison organized spirit events, dances and semi-formal events. She raised money for local charities as part of our annual Christmas Cheer campaign and fundraised for those impacted by the fires in Fort McMurray, Alberta.

Madison wrote articles for the CCRA Centennial News about events at Mowat, including our Canada 150 celebrations, as well as events happening in the community. For one of her final projects, she created a documentary to show how a Syrian family was adjusting to their new life in Toronto, and how Canadians could support those displaced by conflict.

Her acceptance into Ryerson’s School of Journalism is a natural fit for a young woman such as Madison who will use her knowledge and intelligence to evoke change in our world.