Stephen Lewis visited on the first day of school, speaking to students and touring the building. On the left is a picture of Stephen Lewis and Principal Martha Wood. Also attending were our Director of Education, our Associate Directors, Board Chair, trustees, and members of the Communications Department.

Introduction of Mr. Lewis

Sitting in Villages*, all staff and students assembled to hear Mr. Lewis speak. He was introduced by one of our students, Shouka. Here is her speech:

Mr. Lewis, we know and respect the work that you have done as the UN Secretary General's Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa. Your courage and dedication to humanitarian social action is reflected in the foundation and vision of our school, which is named in your honour. It is also our commitment, as your ambassadors of the new Stephen Lewis Secondary School, to pursue excellence, personal growth and individual success, built on the foundation of social justice and equity.

Each and every day at Stephen Lewis Secondary School will be made up of special moments. These moments will be the experiences which guide us. They will be based on choices and decisions. Some will be simple, and some will be risky and a lot tougher - whether or not you should stand up for what you believe in, even though it may mean standing alone or standing out. You will no longer be standing alone, as we will be standing shoulder to shoulder with you. Our interdisciplinary focus for this entire opening year will be supporting HIV/AIDS in Africa, through your Foundation.

* At Stephen Lewis Secondary School, staff and students are assigned to one of four villages: Callwood Village, Kielburger Village, Macphail Village and Suzuki Village.

Portrait Donated to School

Artist Jeff Sprang has generously donated an original watercolour portrait of Stephen Lewis (pictured at right). Mr. Lewis signed the original and this will hang in our school. Limited edition prints are available through Peel District School Board (see our News page for details). All proceeds from the sale of these prints will go to the Stephen Lewis Foundation to help ease the pain of HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Media Coverage

This event was covered by various media. Articles appeared in the Globe & Mail, Toronto Sun and Mississauga News papers.

Toronto Sun Newspaper

The Mississauga News