Every James Lyng High School student to receive free sneakers at Sept. 15 event
Montreal, September 13, 2021- Every student who is enrolled at James Lyng High School (5440 Notre Dame Street West) in St. Henri will be presented with a free pair of sneakers on Wednesday, September 15 (10 am to 12:40 am).
This shoe-drive was initiated by first year McGill University Social Work student Julian Grau-Brown and Community Development Agent Sam Karimi-Harati. Julian attended three EMSB schools: Edward Murphy Elementary in Hochelaga Maisonneuve and Dante Elementary in St. Léonard and Laurier Macdonald High School in St. Léonard. He raised over $3,200 for the shoes and also got enough brand new pairs donated to reach his goal.
“I am extremely excited to launch my first official shoe drive,” said Julian. “My goal was to provide an entire high school with brand new sneakers for the start of this school year. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, I had the opportunity to be an intern at James Lyng as a behavior technician. However, due to the pandemic, I was unable to finish my placement. COVID-19 has brought many struggles to thousands, if not millions, of people worldwide. Thus, I decided I wanted to give back. I turned to the sneaker community because that is where my passion lies, and I know firsthand the impact a fresh pair of sneakers can have on a student's confidence and morale.”
Julian Grau-Brown showcases the boxes of shoes he will distribute. |
Also on Wednesday, students will receive Back-to-School Supply Kits courtesy of Caisse Desjardins du Sud-Ouest de Montréal, a long-time partner of the school. Representative Sylvie LaFramboise will be present to distribute the materials to the students.
“We are extremely grateful to the Caisse Desjardins du Sud-Ouest de Montréal for their ongoing support of our student,” said James Lyng Vice Principal Andrea Dillon. “All of our students deserve to begin the school year well-equipped for their lessons, and we are very pleased to be able to provide supplies thanks to support from our generous community.”
James Lyng High School hosts students from various communities and socio-economic backgrounds.
About the English Montreal School Board
With a youth and adult sector population of more than 35,000 students, the English Montreal School Board (EMSB) is the largest English public school board in Quebec. Established on July 1, 1998, when the province created new boards along linguistic lines, the EMSB network consists of 77 schools and centres. For more details, visit the EMSB website at www.emsb.qc.ca.
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Contact:
Michael J. Cohen
Manager, Marketing and Communications
English Montreal School Board
514-483-7200 ext. 7243