University of Toronto Schools honours alumni Lawrence Hill and pushes to increase diversity
November 5, 2024
In running gear after completing an eight-kilometre road race in 1971, Lawrence Hill hurried to the University of Toronto Schools (UTS) to write the entrance exam.
“I remember my father saying, ‘You are not getting into that school’,” the best-selling and critically acclaimed author and educator recounted. “I was not quite sure whether there was a measure of meanness in that or he just didn’t think they would take a Black student. What he said, however, made me more determined to get in there.”
Who could blame the late Daniel Hill Sr. for thinking that the younger of his two sons would not be admitted to the then mainly White independent school?
There were no Black students at the time and just one during Hill’s four years.
“It was quite a journey,” said the recipient of this year’s H.J. Crawford (he was the first Principal from 1910 to 1923) Award that recognizes significant contributions to the advancement of UTS by an individual or group. “I was the only Black student in my Grade and often the only one in the school. When I started returning to volunteer at UTS several years after graduating, I found it particularly moving to see how much the school had been succeeding in bringing in students who traditionally had been excluded from the UTS community. I was also happy to see that the school is fully integrated because when I started, it was boys-only. A lot more, however, can change to bring girls into the school.”
School Principal Dr. Leanne Foster and Deputy Principal Dr. Kimberley Tavares presented the award to Hill at the annual Alumni Reunion on November 2.
UTS Principal and Deputy Principal Dr. Leanne Foster (l) and Dr. Kimberley Tavares present the H.J Crawford Award to Lawrence Hill (Photo by Ron Fanfair)
“He has been a vital member of the UTS community from his days as a student and school captain to his recent work with our students,” said Foster. “He has been a classroom and assembly speaker, he has worked with our Writer’s Craft students and has supported our students Black Equity Committee.”
As the Campaign Co-Chair for the ‘Building the Future’ campaign, Hill also supported the building renewal and was the inaugural speaker at the Building the Future Speaker Series.
“Larry’s commitment to these initiatives has made a profound impact on our community and has significantly advanced the strategic goals of UTS,” Foster noted.
In conversation with UTS Black Equity Committee Co-presidents and Grade 12 students Cici Sutherland and Tyen Tesfaye, Hill reflected on his time at the institution and how it shaped him.
“One of the most terrifying, yet exhilarating and stimulating things was that we were required to come up on stage and speak extemporaneously in front of the entire school,” he recalled. “The first time, I was terrified and paralyzed and I am sure I did a horrible job. You were given a piece of paper with half a phrase and you were given two minutes to prepare before speaking. It was a fantastic way to learn how to speak and it helped you gain confidence. I was part of the Debating Club which I loved…I was encouraged to write even though most of my peers were interested in the sciences.”
The author of 11 books, Hill has 10 honourary doctorates from Canadian universities and is a Professor of Creative Writing at the School of English & Creative Studies at the University of Guelph.
Born in Newmarket where his interracial parents moved to from the United States the day after they married in 1953, the family relocated to Don Mills eight years later.
Growing up in the suburban Toronto neighbourhood, he was the only Black on his track club and hockey teams in the 1970s.
“We had to stretch to find and connect with Black people,” the 2015 Order of Canada appointee said. “I had to bring that effort through reading and travels. Growing up in the crucible of racial ambiguity drove me to write and make sense of the world and my place in it. In a way, I am grateful for that.”
In response to a question about book bans, particularly those that attempt to systematically and disproportionately impact Black youth who would benefit from the literary work’s interrogation of society as they shape their understanding of their people’s history, Hill reminded the audience that a Dutch group burned the cover of his award-winning bestseller, ‘The Book of Negroes’, in Amsterdam in 2011 because of its title.
“I don’t believe in banning books,” he said. “If you happen to be a 17-year-old high school student and want to understand genocide, you might have to read ‘Mein Kampf’ written by Hitler to grasp what led him to propagate one of the worst genocides in the world. Banning books is a gross insult to our intelligence and we need to leave it to readers to figure out how to understand things. No one should be deprived of full access to literature. The people who seek to do so fear the power of literature and are therefore attempting to control or stymie it.”
Lawrence Hill engages in dialogue with UTS Black Equity Committee Co-presidents Cici Sutherland and Tyen Tesfaye (r) in the presence of Deputy Principal Dr. Kimberley Tavares (Photo by Ron Fanfair)
Tavares said it was important for members of the Black Equity Committee to engage Hill in dialogue.
Often, he addresses his family history and the journey to claim his identity.
“UTS is known for its academics and high achievement,” said Tavares who was promoted to Deputy Principal last April. “So there is a way that we ignore conversations related to equity because there could be this misguided belief that it is not something that needs to be attended to at the school. Despite what Lawrence Hill got from this school and his amazing accolades, he is also committed to ensuring that we are not avoiding or ignoring the reality that racism and discrimination take place, especially when you are young and trying to navigate school. To do better, we have to talk about it.
“…The work of the Black Equity Committee is integral to our broader commitment to anti-racism, equity, diversity & inclusion. This student committee along with other student-led initiatives is pivotal in fostering a more inclusive community and contributing to a more representative school community.”
Since 2022, UTS has celebrated Black History Month as Black Futures Month.
Black Equity Committee students intentionally decided to make the month more future-focused and forward-thinking. In doing so, they highlight the school’s commitment to grasping and acknowledging past and the present injustices while celebrating the contributions made by Black people and cultures to Canada’s development.
Established in 1910 as a ‘practice school’ and a laboratory school for the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Education, UTS became an ancillary unit of U of T two decades ago, separate from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education.
In 2021, UTS commissioned Dr. Avis Glaze to review its policies and practices and engage stakeholders in focus groups to provide recommendations on making the school more diverse and inclusive.
“Over the years, UTS has produced outstanding graduates who have served their communities with distinction in a variety of occupations,” the international education adviser said. “I was very happy when the Board and then Principal Rosemary Evans asked me to conduct a review of the school. It certainly was one of the most enjoyable activities in my consulting career. I left feeling that if I had a son or daughter, I would certainly have considered the school because of its teaching staff, high standards, engaged parents and commitment to diversity, inclusion and holistic education.”
Dr. Avis Glaze (Photo by Ron Fanfair)
In 2022, Glaze delivered her report that outlines 57 recommendations for positive change and take practical steps to address racism, improve diversity and engender a sense of inclusion and meaningful belonging for students and staff from under-represented groups.
UTS acted immediately.
“I was very pleased with the swift response to my recommendations and the implementation plan they created,” added Glaze who is a former Ontario Education Commissioner. “Thanks to the Board, as a result of the steadfast commitment and seriousness of purpose, the parents, staff and students are already realizing the results they have worked assiduously to achieve. As someone who has worked with schools in some 50 jurisdictions worldwide, I consider UTS to be an excellent school that provides a world-class education preparing their graduates to be successful anywhere in the world.”
The first step was creating the position of Coordinating Vice-Principal with responsibility for Anti-Racism, Equity, Inclusion & Admissions to embed progress within the school administration.
Tavares, who completed a PhD in Education at York University in 2013 and taught kindergarten to Grade 12 in addition to being a Course Instructor at Queen’s University and a Senior Lecturer at Niagara University in Ontario, was appointed to fill the role.
“I wanted to see and challenge my own biases about independent and private schools and the assumption about who it is for and who has a right to be there,” she said. “I do think that it is not for everybody. But if you are interested and have the skill set, you have every right to apply. I wanted to do something different and see if I could make a difference in the community.”
Before Tavares hiring in June 2022, there were two Black students among the enrolment of 675.
The number of Blacks has increased to 25.
“I want Black kids and their parents to know that this school is open to them and it is an option,” said Tavares whose areas of expertise include equity, leadership and literacy. “I also want the broader community to know we are committed to diversity and equity. Kids from any background or religion will not experience discrimination or racism here. The goal is to diversify the population and ensure the school is an inclusive community.”
Since arriving three years ago, she has been aggressive in her approach to bring UTS and community partners together.
“UTS has a lot to offer,” Tavares said. “We are very privileged and we have a lot of resources and skills that we can share with the community. At the same time, we want the community to begin to find themselves in this school and have a space here. I am working with groups, including the 100 Strong Foundation, the Leadership by Design program and Operation Black Vote where our space and some of the skills that our students and our community have can be leveraged to better their organization and increase our relationship within the community.”
To do this groundbreaking work at the school, Tavares needs the support of her Principal and the UTS Board of Directors.
“It is there,” she said. “In our new strategic plan, the Board has committed to inclusion, anti-racism and equity. It underpins all the work we are doing across curriculum, pedagogy and outreach.”
The school’s Bloor St. W. campus was recently redeveloped, and four new science laboratories, media and innovation labs and visual arts rooms were added.
Foster acknowledged donors’ generosity, particularly alumni.
“You made this possible,” she said. “We hope you enjoy experiencing everything that you have done.”
Last September, the independent school launched its new strategic plan.
“Our mission is simple, yet distinctive,” said the school’s 15th Principal. “We ignite the brightest minds to make a difference in the world. We do this by selecting the brightest students, those with a drive for academic excellence, a commitment to inclusion and a dedication to leading with integrity. What sets UTS apart is our unwavering passion for learning, our teachers’ dedication and a vibrant community that supports this journey. Our enduring values, respect, accountability, honesty and integrity bring together students, staff, alumni and families across generations. At UTS, we believe that true leadership is defined by empathy, integrity and a drive to effect positive change…Our alumni are trailblazers, shaping a more just and equitable world and this legacy transcends our world.”
Peter Buzzi, the Chair of the Board of Directors, said UTS is committed to attracting and educating the brightest young minds in the Greater Toronto Area, regardless of their background, where they live or their families’ financial position.
Though tuition is out of reach for many families without significant financial aid, the school provided $2.7 million in bursaries last year to nearly 16 percent of its students with an average of 60 percent of tuition covered for those students.
“While this is impressive without doubt, it highlights the deep support we receive from alumni,” said the 1977 graduate. “It is not enough to ensure that all deserving students are able to receive the benefits of a UTS education. I was one of those students receiving a bursary to complete my last two years at UTS. Our goal as a Board is to significantly increase the amount of bursary funding we can make available to deserving students.”
Parents interested in enrolling their children at UTS can go the school’s website, utschools.ca, call Tavares at 416-550-1949 or email her at Kimberley.tavares@utschools.ca.
Entrance is accepted in Grades 7 and 9.
“If kids can pass our English and Math exams to get in, we have the means to support them,” she said. “Once accepted, you have to re-apply for the bursary annually, but there is an assumption it will be granted if nothing changes.”
In her final year, Sutherland is the daughter of award-winning screenwriters Sudz Sutherland and Jennifer Holness.
“We always knew Cici is a bright girl,” said her father. “In public school during the pandemic, we could not get her in a class for about four weeks because they were online. Then, teachers missed entire units in some subject areas and she fell behind in Grades 7 and 8. We decided to get our child the best education we could. When she said she wanted to go to UTS, we said okay and told her there was a test and she had to study for it. She got high marks and made it in. She is fully prepared for university.”
Older sister Daeja Sutherland graduated from UTS in 2021 and is a fourth-year student at Parsons School of Design|The New School in New York.
Besides Hill, other notable UTS alumni are Nobel Prize winners John Polanyi and Michael Spence, medical pioneer James Fraser Mustard, Canadian diplomat Wendy Drukier and former Toronto Mayor John Tory.
