Amid anti-Black racism protests, Masai Ujiri urges people to ask: 'Who are you as a person?'

Guest: Masai Ujiri

[Music: Theme]

MG: This is a strange time for the class of 2020. Comes in the midst of a pandemic, an economic hit and an anti-racism protest that is happening all around the world. In the midst of all of that, we wanted to celebrate the achievements of young people who are graduating from high school. That ceremony is coming up. But first, Masai Ujiri. He's the president of the Toronto Raptors and founder of the non-profit organisation Giants of Africa. It's a basketball youth programme, Masai Ujiri. Good morning.

MASAI UJIRI: Morning. Nice to see you, Matt.

MG: How are you doing? These are weird times. How are you doing?

MASAI UJIRI: I'm doing good. I'm doing good. Keeping busy. The Zoom's keep you busy, right? A hundred of them every day. Plus my kids. They run into the Zoom calls and want to play tag or basketball or football or something. But it's been good. It's been good family time and trying to gather ourselves again.

MG: What do you think of the world that the kids who are graduating now are entering, what goes through your mind?

MASAI UJIRI: You know, you feel for them a little bit because they can to experience this as much as the graduation experience. But I think is a unique time that they can actually, like, take advantage of. It doesn't matter how they graduate, they are still the future.

MG: Let's talk about this moment. We're seeing extraordinary protests around the world in the streets of the United States, across Canada, through Europe and beyond. How do you see the moment that we're in right now when people are talking about race?

MASAI UJIRI: Well, honestly, my racism is real. We know it's real. It's this time we talk about it this time. People confronted and I actually love these times, you know, because there seems to be something different in the air this time. And I like that people, white, black, any culture are coming on and talking about this. And I'm saying how they feel and it is time for us to call it out.

MG: This has been a long conversation, but the one that's happening right now in many ways was precipitated by the death of George Floyd. Did you watch that video?

MASAI UJIRI: I watched that video. And that's one of the toughest things I've ever watched, to see somebody being killed and murdered in broad daylight right there. I don't know how somebody can sit on somebodies neck like that and not have any feeling inside you, your hands in your pockets, you know. In my mind, you know, that's the most cruel that you could ever get. And with three people around him watching that happen, I couldn't even- It's so hard to explain. And even when you keep thinking about it, you get more angry and angry when you watch it. And just saw the kids shot in Atlanta a couple of days ago. And I ask myself. I ask myself the tough question, you know, if that kid was white, would he shoot him, you know, and was there a better way to deal with that? Listen, we have police issues. We have so many institutional issues. But racism is the core of this thing. And and we have to confront that now.

MG: Why do you think that people are confronting it now? Is it about the video? Because there have been videos before. There have been photos before. What's happening now? Do you think that has set off this discussion in a way that it hasn't happened before?

MASAI UJIRI: I think people, Black people, are tired, indigenous people are tired. Everyone is just tired of, everybody is tired of, you know, I call it as it is the white race being seen as the superior race or like that. Everybody is tired of it, you know, and while we all come into this world the same, I know it's, nobody is different. And why does it turn? I didn't grow up in some remote area away. It's only a white people. I didn't grow up with- my parents then push me like a certain way. Or you could come from 500 years ago of slavery and so many different things that could trigger all these things, you know. But the one thing we want the youth to know now is they are the ones that are going to change this. I love when I watch their protests and you see those people from all races in this protest, I need shows, you know, like they're thinking now, you know, then they're thinking where it's going. And the youth now have to, they have to channel that the right way. And they are the ones that are going to control. We say we can change a lot of 50 year olds or 60 year olds, but those youth, they can determine what their future is. And it's time. for us to really, really think about humanity.

MG: You mentioned indigenous peoples. And I mean, there's a tendency in Canada to say, well, we're not as bad as what's happening in the United States. Do you think that that conversation holds the discussion back from being as open as it could be in this country?

MASAI UJIRI: Well, it needs to be open in this country. You know, let's call a spade a spade. You know, like we know what is going on here. We blacks, we the indigenous people and, yeah, okay, we agree that it's not as pronounced maybe as in the States, but it's here, you know, and I think we need to confront it. We know and we need to be real with ourselves. And we call out everybody. We call out leaders. We call out white leaders here because they need to confront it. You know, they need to figure out their institutions, their places of work where I think we can of start addressing systemic racism and institutional racism.

MG: There is an assumption in some people that the higher up the ladder you go, the less of this you deal with. That's not the case. I mean, you will have to know that an experience that a year ago in June when the Raptors won the championship and you were prevented by a police officer from going onto the court to celebrate with your team. And I know you can't talk a lot about it because the officer is suing you, but. What was it about that moment that stung you the most?

MASAI UJIRI: You know, some somebody said and we were talking about in my organisation, as somebody told a story, how he had a suit on, it was in a store and he had a suit on and and cops came in and he actually saved him having a suit on. And because they thought the cops. Oh, he's not somebody- he must be somebody respectable or something. And I stopped it right away and I said I had a suit on. I had a suit on and he stopped me. And so it leaves a scar. But to me, honestly, when I look at it, it's actually, I actually look at it now as nothing on him, as a nobody to me, because, one, he's not going to stop me from being who I am. And the person that I am. And secondly, I can't imagine mine was on camera, you know, and I can't imagine why was somebody that lost his life. That's one. And secondly, I can't imagine how many people go through this and it's not on camera. Yes, there's so many. You imagine how many of these things happen and nobody ever sees it. Nobody ever hears this story. And and this is the crazy part of the world. So if mine but brought out something where people can actually speak about it, I don't care if he's suing. You know, he can do whatever he wants. You know, like, um. It's there and it's clear exactly what happened.

MG: What will show you that the moment that we're in now is different because it seems like everybody is speaking up. You have corporations, you have sports leagues, you have everybody has said something or most people have said something. What's going to show you that this isn't just a moment, but that it's something larger, that moment?

MASAI UJIRI: Well, we're checking with everybody in September and we're checking with everybody in January next year. Oh, we'll continue to checking. These things are going to keep going. And I don't think people are going to stop now. I think people are even more self-conscious. Is it time for everybody to look at themselves in the mirror? Like, who are you as a person? Because when I look at those things that happen, it's not only the colour of your skin. It's also the human being that you are. And when I look at those three men, you know, and I say, okay, they couldn't stop that, you know, like as human beings. And when I look at those two cops that just shot the kid in Atlanta, I say, you can say, oh, I'll put him in a new bar or I'll sit him down here. And the next best option is to kill him. Okay. I'm by the way, who are we as a human being? I look at those cops in Buffalo and they push of an old man down. Okay, you claim you didn't push him down. Okay. He tripped. He's bleeding from his ear. He's a white man. He's 70. How many years old? Pick him up if you are a human being. Yes, I don't give a damn if you police or whoever you are. You are a human being. If you see an old man bleeding from his ear pick his arse up. That's what we do as humans. And then far too many of them quit their jobs. If they like, one million of them can quit. If that's how they think they can all quit. Yes, that's how- to me. It's being a human being. And this time we talk about how humanity is in our society because it's a really, really big thing we have to address.

MG: Do you think that there is an opportunity for leadership? I mean, what do you want to see leaders do? Justin Trudeau took a knee with protesters in Ottawa. And there were some people who are saying that that was symbolic and that's important. But beyond symbolism, do something. What do you want leaders to do?

MASAI UJIRI: Yeah, well, to me, I thought it was really symbolic. You know, I don't know Justin. I don't know who he is as a human being, you know, like. I think it's moral. Call it out when you see it. You know, like you. Why real leaders when you see it, call it out. Not only at the top. You don't have to be a leader of a big place, you know, like that. This goes on at every level and wherever you are as a leader, when you see this things, if we are real humans, when you see this things happen, call them out. It's so important that we call them out. And that's how I'm going to start to see this thing out, because people get embarrassed. And people will get, when they get called out, it's not good because in society, a scene is different. We have to do that.

MG: What about in the United States? I mean, you're, what, five months away from an election south of the border? How important do you think that will be, that result will be if you want to see this be more than a moment? If you want to see people seize on this and try and change a conversation.

MASAI UJIRI: While the Americans have to go out and vote. Well, that's that does the most important thing here. You know, like I leave it at that. You have to go out and and vote. That's when you see real change.

MG: What's your responsibility? You're a leader as well. What do you see as your responsibility in the moment?

MASAI UJIRI: Well, I. I have to speak up to speak for the youth. I have to speak for leaders. I have to use my platform. We also have to perform. We have to perform where we're working. And we have to address this on every level that we are. I have to speak to other leaders. I have to go out into the community. I have to talk to the youth. I have to talk to my children. These things are in the blood, you know, like it's something that I feel I have a platform to do. And it's our responsibility. It's our responsibility that we have to have on our shoulders.

MG: What kind of conversations have you had with your players about this? And what do you what do you expect from them in this moment? They have a platform and people will say, you know, don't listen to athletes about anything other than sports, but they have a lived experience as well. So what do you want to hear from them and what sort of conversations are you having with them?

MASAI UJIRI: All of them have had different experiences. You know, like my experience last year has happened to almost every single player. A lot of black people who have experienced that in one way or the other? And they are. So I the conversations are different with everybody, you know, like different with every team mate or player, depending on where they are in their lives, you know, and some of it see it, you know, like really, really big and it's challenging for them. Some of them have the platform to even speak up much more than others. But, yes, it's a real conversation with all the players. And that dialogue is going to continue. And they are determined that this thing has to continue.

MG: There are some players who are worried that if the season resumes, it won't continue. That they see that as a distraction. And there are players who saying we don't want to go back and play now because that will take away from this moment. What do you say to them?

MASAI UJIRI: You know, I'm not in their shoes as players. And I listen to their voices. That's what I've that's that's what I've done in in my position. You have to do that. The only thing I would say is we have to use the platform, you know, like this platform is here for us. You know, like I and sometimes I see myself in their shoes because of maybe my journey coming into the NBA. So this platform, I just know that it's really important for us to speak and continue to speak.

MG: And do you think that, that that platform that their voices would be heard if they were playing?

MASAI UJIRI: That their voices will be heard all the time, you know, but it's going to be polarised when you are playing. I know that. And then there's no question about that. But it is up to the players, you know, like they have to feel it in their hearts and they have to make their own judgement on on how they want to deal with it.

MG: You mentioned your kids. What do you want your kids to know about this time? What would you what do you talk to them about this moment that we're in right now?

MASAI UJIRI: You know, it's very difficult with a four year old and a six year old because they are so young guy that I'm actually studying and learning, you know, like the best way to talk to them for me right now, I'm teaching them a lot about humanity, you know, like a lot about helping, a lot about helping each other, a lot about thanking people, a lot about being grateful, you know. And we start with that from for now, my kids, they don't see any colour, you know, like it's the way my parents taught me to be the best that you can possibly be. You respect people, you know, like, and then you go about the business. You are the right way. And I know they are going to experience it somewhere. And I'm still learning, though, and how to channel that with them.

MG: Do you worry about the world that they're going to grow up in?

MASAI UJIRI: I think they'll be fine, you know, like I am. I'm excited about the youth. When I see the movement this now, I see the movement all over the world. I see the movement thing on the continent of Africa. I think, you know, the future is bright for them. We all have worries. You know, you hope your kids can do well and grow up well and have great moments. But the challenge is it's what my parents taught me. You go meet the challenge, you know. And I want to teach my kids that.

MG: What do you miss about basketball?

MASAI UJIRI: I honestly, that is every single thing that I do right now, I miss- I was talking to reporters, you know, like a few weeks ago, and I told them, I even miss you guys. You know, it's amazing, you know, like how sports brings people together. And I miss walking in the arena, you know, like I miss going to the office. I miss hearing the ball dribble, you know, and hopefully, you know, we get that back soon.

MG: You're going to be working with kids in Toronto and the work that you do here is really important. You're handing out these grad kits to grade eight students. Grade eight is a big thing because you go off to high school. Who knows what that is going to be like? Why do you want to offer them some sort of encouragement?

MASAI UJIRI: This is just some little form of telling them that we're thinking of them at this time because sometimes, you know, confined in a space, a home, and you can seem it can seem like you're forgotten. I think it's a good time, you know, to relate to them in a positive way and give them a sense of hope, a sense of pride. They're going to be bold. They are going to be beautiful. I think it's a it's a great day with the day of the Africans, the international African child is that there's nothing like today for them to celebrate aside.

MG: Masai Ujiri. Thank you.

MASAI UJIRI: Thank you.

MG: Masai Ujiri is president of the NBA champion Toronto Raptors and founder of the non-profit organisation Giants of Africa. It's a basketball youth programme. Earlier in the programme, we heard Daniela Giangioppo, teacher at Bishop Allen Academy in Toronto. She'd a box in hand and was headed out to surprise some students on their doorstep as they graduate. Here's her visit to Noah Drees.

SOUNDCLIP

DANIELA: Hi.

NOAH: How are you?

DANIELA: Good. I don't know if you want to put this on. I don't know if your family's home.

NOAH: My mom is right here. Hey, Mama.

DANIELA: Just asking if he could put on his graduation gown and cap.

NOAH: We're getting ready.

DANIELA: Do you have the tassel?

NOAH: Yes, it's OK.

MOM: No no. You have to put it on, baby.

NOAH: All right, good. Here we go. Got the grad hat on.

MOM: Oh, my God.

DANIELA: So. Noah, it's my pleasure to congratulate you on being a graduate of Bishop Allen Academy in the class of 2020. I'm also here to deliver some more good news to you. And that is that this year you are the recipient of the Gaudett and Domino Award. So congratulations on this achievement, Noah.

NOAH: Thanks so much. It's a really great honour. It was just sort of like- a for being a good person and the little acts of kindness matter, which is something I've always believed in.

MOM: We're very, very proud. And I can see that he feels good and proud of himself and we're proud of him, too.

MG: It's fantastic. Celebrating graduation in a pandemic. It is different, to say the very least. The CBC News is next. And then we're back with our own special celebration of the class of 2020. I'm Matt Galloway. You're listening to The Current on CBC Radio One.

What it's like to graduate high school in the middle of a pandemic

Guests: Karen Hudson, MorganBouchard, Alaa Khalaf, Lydia Hart, Naia Lee, Shubhkarman Jaura, Allisther DeCastro, Lance Sampson

MG: Hello, I'm Matt Galloway, and this is a special edition of The Current, a celebration of high school graduation for the class of 2020. Go ahead and give them a round of applause.

SOUNDCLIP

[Applause]

MG: I'd like to introduce our musicians for today's festivities. This is the Western Canada High School Band from Calgary. There are a 100 grade 12 students in this group who we're delighted that they could be here for the convocation. So let's have a listen. As people take their seats.

[Music]

MG: Of course, convocation ceremonies are different this year. We can't cram hundreds of people into gyms or auditoriums at the moment. So today we're having a virtual ceremony for Canadian grads. We'll get to the speeches and meet our graduates in a few minutes. They're just getting their caps and gowns on right now. We can't forget. In the meantime, another traditional grad event that has been cancelled this year. Prom. Remember prom? Dresses, suits, the limos, the photos, the formal dinner at the dance. It's not going to be like that this year for high school students like Loren Sevella and Marcus Serrin in New Westminster, B.C..

SOUNDCLIP

LOREN: This is the graduation dress I bought back in September. It's kind of like a beaded top and a really long, nice material, silver bottom. I saw it on the mannequin first and it looked amazing and I tried it on. I only tried to one dress before that, but I, I came out, I saw my mom's face and just immediately fell in love with it. Yes. Doesn't bring the same joy necessarily anymore that it did when I first got it.

MARCUS: I mean, I don't mind dressing up like when I do I kind of feel nice, but it's not like that big of a deal for me. Like I guess it's nice to get pictures and stuff, but it's kind of uncomfortable too.

MARCUS: I never got to wear a nice dress before. And there's very few moments in your life you get to dress up all formal and really celebrate with people you've known for so long and say goodbye and definitely feel like I miss out on that big final moment.

SOUNDCLIP

[Song: Have it All by Jason Mraz]

LOREN: He asked me back in February if I would go with him. I mean, he was going to do a big proposal.

MARCUS: But a proposal is like you basically just ask this person to prom in like a grander scale than just like going up to them and asking them like, oh, do you want to go with me?

LOREN: I don't think we're going to do that anymore, so.

MARCUS: So it's kind of like a big thing, I guess. Like, I feel like a lot of girls look forward to getting a prom proposal.

LOREN: Definitely was, especially having a boyfriend in grade twelve and knowing that was going to happen. It's a little sad.

MARCUS: Oh, I was going to have like a nice sign. And then she likes succulent plans. So instead of flowers, I was going to get her a succulent plant and it was going to be cute.

LOREN: It's definitely a big deal. It's something that you look forward to. Like. I remember thinking back in elementary school, you see older kids wearing their fancy dresses and they're often the next chapter and definitely something I look forward to all of high school. It's quite disappointing.

MARCUS: Talk about it and just get really sad and then just kind of get over it after a couple minutes. But trying to think about it too much because there's bigger problems in the world right now, also.

LOREN: True. So graduation is something I'm sad about missing out on, but it's not the biggest deal right now.

MG: We can't throw a prom for our high school students, but we are having a virtual convocation. Looks like the graduates have all found their seats.

[Music]

MG: The academic procession is underway. Dignitaries are taking their spots on stage. And our first guest is someone who's spoken at many of these ceremonies. In fact, Karen Hudson was named one of Canada's outstanding principals last year. She's in charge at Auburn Drive High School in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia. Karen Hudson, welcome.

KAREN HUDSON: Good morning.

MG: As this school year comes to an end, how are you feeling?

KAREN HUDSON: Oh, I feel a lot. I feel a little bit anxious, excited. And I feel blessed. I feel blessed that we're still here. All our students are alive and well and safe.

MG: You have been described as a human dynamo, somebody who, as you move through the halls of your school, goes from student to student. You know the names of all the students. You know all about them. We're in this strange time where you can't be there physically with him, but you're still in contact with the students and the parents through virtual means. What are those conversations like with the students, with their parents in this strange time?

KAREN HUDSON: Some of the conversations has been around the challenges that they've been encountering regarding virtual learning, understanding what's happening within our society, regarding their social structures, discussion around antiblack races. How are they going to learn? And, you know, Miss Hudson. I don't know what I'm doing. I can't do this. I don't understand this. This is not the authentic way of teaching or the traditional way of teaching and just trying to give to them reassurance that you're going to be okay, that this is new for all of us. And so with that spirit, I try to come to them with encouragement. This is just part of a life cycle that we're going through. But if you have faith and not fear by faith that things will get better, you'll be fine.

MG: You grew up in this community and now you're the principal at a local school. How different is the education that your students are getting compared to what your own schooling was like?

KAREN HUDSON: Well, Matt, what we're trying to do in Auburn Drive High School is that we want to create an Africentric cohort that focus on maths and literacy so that our students could see themselves grounded in their own social realities, because it's very difficult if you don't see representation of who you are, if you don't hear the stories of who you are, if you don't have an opportunity to read about those positive accomplishments and achievements of people who look like you, then you feel that you're not part of this story or part of the society. So that's all we're trying to do is ground them in their history. And with that, that comes some opportunities to create that confidence and create that positive space so that they can feel that their value and that they're precious and that there's opportunity for them to branch out and saying that centring myself and my own history is just important as everyone's else history.

MG: I'm talking to you and you're talking about those outcomes in the midst of this moment. And there's a moment in a movement that is sweeping across the United States, across Canada, around the world, and people have seen moments before. But to a lot of people, it feels different. You've been involved in this work for a long time in terms of antiblack racism. How do you see this moment?

KAREN HUDSON: I feed off energy. I feed off what the young people have done. I feed off their commitment. And I'm encouraged because now we're having some real dialogue, some conversations which can be uncomfortable, but they're real conversations about what can we do to break down those systems? What will our justice system look like? What will our schools look like? How can we be true to individuals that have been left out? And so I'm encouraged. I feel that we're moving for it, but hopefully that we don't ignore the spirit of truth and honesty and that we actually decide as a society that we need to do things differently. And if we can just live by what's been happening from what you see on the media, because that's been the conversation now on the media every day. We used to be COVID-19. But now is anti black racism, Black Lives Matter. And we don't take heed to that. Then I don't know what we are going to do to make this society better.

MG: You speak with such pride of your students and you I mean, I can hear you glowing through the radio the way that you talk about them and how proud you are of them. This is the class of 2020. And so here's your opportunity. To address them, I'm going to turn it over to you. Principal Hudson, some words of wisdom for this class of 2020.

KAREN HUDSON: Thank you, Matt. Congratulations, class of 2020. I am proud of your accomplishments and your tenacity, given that we are living in uncertain times due to this global pandemic, the social unrest, the inequalities and the protests that exist within our society. Your voices are being heard. And as graduates, your future is determined by your willingness to make change and act on that change. Now is your time to do right. And it's never too late to be part of causes that make a difference. You are the graduates that will always remember these moments. Staying at home, social distancing, an online virtual learning. And for most of you, it was a shock. But you handled it with dignity and value, continue to be open to the experiences and go against the status quo. Listen to your instincts and through all of this, stay humble and be your best self and work towards unity. And as your journey continues. Dream big and believe in possibilities. Say thank you to those who have helped you along the way. Show love. Inspire all others. Find your joy. Challenge your beliefs. Create your own destiny and legacy. Be kind. And do not be silent about issues and historical injustices that matter. Use your ideas, your thoughts, your creativity, your stamina and your commitment to challenge these systems. Use your character to go forward. Pause, reflect and think about what comes after your dash. Stand up for truth, be doers and make your impact. You are worthy. Your special, unique and powerful. And my hope is unwavering because the world is in capable hands. You are resilient and courageous. Hashtag Black Lives Matter. Congratulation, grads 2020.

MG: Your students are lucky to have you. Principal, thank you.

KAREN HUDSON: Thank you, Matt.

[Music]

MG: This brings us to that part in the ceremony where we meet and celebrate the achievements of the class of 2020. There are a few grads lined up ready to walk across the stage and receive their diplomas. Parents, family and friends. You have been waiting for this moment for, what, 18 years now. So feel free to clap and cheer as our grads take to the stage. First up, Morgan Bouchard. Morgan is graduating from Ecole McTavish Public High School in Fort McMurray, Alberta. Morgan is planning to attend College next year to study to become an educational assistant. Morgan, congratulations.

MORGAN BOUCHARD: Thank you.

MG: How does it feel to be done?

MORGAN BOUCHARD: It feels very good. It's like it's finally done. So it's part of my life that I can move on and start my, like, future. And I'm very excited.

MG: Why education? Why do you want to study education?

MORGAN BOUCHARD: I had the pleasure to grow up with two very important teachers and how they have helped me in my life. I want to be able to help a kid like they helped me. I just I've watched them since I was 14 years old. They're incredible. And I just want to be able to help a kid like that, like they have done for me.

MG: Tell me more about that. How did those teachers help you?

MORGAN BOUCHARD: So I was 14. My mom had been to pass away a very hard time trying to get to school and basically just life. And they went out of their way to do everything they could to make my experience through high school the best they could. My one teacher, she sat with me, I think, every day after school, and she didn't have to. She was like, she just sat with me and she talked to me and she always asked me how my day was and how I was doing in my classes. She talked to my teachers to make sure I was doing good. I don't think I could have got through high school without them.

MG: If those teachers weren't there. What would have happened, do you think?

MORGAN BOUCHARD: I don't think I probably won't pass my classes or even show up to school honestly, like they push me to do the best that I could because they know I was capable of doing so, even if at the time I didn't feel like I was capable. Yes, they're just incredible, like the way they, like, show that they cared about me and that no matter how much I pushed back, they always pushed back a lot harder.

MG: And that's what you want to bring as a teacher?

MORGAN BOUCHARD: Yes. I want to show a kid that, like, I don't even know how to word it may be so emotional, but like, I just want to be able to be there for a kid and make sure that they know that no matter how like, crappy it is, like it always is when you get better.

MG: You've been through a lot. I mean, you mentioned your mom dying and you're in Fort Mac where there were wildfires as well. And I know that disrupted things. What did you learn about yourself and going through all of this?

MORGAN BOUCHARD: I think that. In the end, no matter what life has been like, throw at me, I think I have the skills now to get through it. I'm not as scared for future situation as much because I think I've been through a little bit as like a kid or is as a teenager that I'll be set for when I'm an adult.

MG: You have a whole career ahead of you in terms of teaching and a whole life ahead of you. And that's starting now. You just got the keys to your own place, right?

MORGAN BOUCHARD: Yes, I did. I got the keys yesterday as a very exciting feeling, walking in and moving in with my best friend and just I can't even explain it. It's a I'm just so excited.

MG: Your mom would be really proud of you.

MORGAN BOUCHARD: Thank you.

MG: Congratulations.

MORGAN BOUCHARD: Thank you.

MG: Morgan Bouchard, one of our graduates.

[Music]

MG: I'd like to welcome Alaa Khalaf next. She is a member of the class of 2020 from George S. Henry Academy in Toronto. Alaa arrived in Canada as a refugee from Syria three years ago. She's now graduating with a prestigious award and a scholarship. Alaa, good morning to you and congratulations.

ALAA KHALAF: Hi. Good morning.

MG: How do you feel having completed high school? This is a big as we were just talking about. It is a big change in your life and a big step.

ALAA KHALAF: I know. I'm so excited. I never expected to be here. To be honest. And it's I'm really thankful and grateful for all the support I got since I arrived here. I've been sponsored by a group, people who didn't know me, but they wanted to give back. And we're one big family right now. They're my biggest supporters. They've helped me so much and I'm thankful to them. That's why I am here today.

MG: What was the biggest hurdle that you think you faced when you arrived here? I mean, moving anywhere is difficult. Moving to a completely different culture in a completely different country is is something else. What was the biggest thing that you faced?

ALAA KHALAF: To be honest, it was learning the language. I spoke no English before coming here. And when I first arrived, I just I wasn't able to express myself. I wasn't able to talk to others. So that really made me sad. And I wanted so badly to talk to people, so badly to express myself. So I sent the first few months learning English and I did it. It went really fast. People can't even tell the difference between me and someone else who've lost their whole life.

MG: You see spoke no English three years ago.

ALAA KHALAF: Yes.

MG: And listen to you now.

MG: You've done a lot of great work in school, but you also are involved in this perhaps isn't surprising given what you went through. You're also involved in giving back. Tell me about the volunteer work that you do.

ALAA KHALAF: Yes. So starting some gridlock then. That's when I started volunteering within my school and in my community. A lot of my work focussed on helping other newcomers. You know, I basically gave newcomer students toys of the school, introduced them to people at the school. We took them in tours around Toronto. And I also helped other newcomers in my community working with the [unintelligible] organisation. That's where I developed English language conversation circles helped to its interpretation services. And I also organised food festivals at my school. I've been involved in multicultural clubs, performed at annual festivals and so on.

MG: That's a lot. How did you fit it all?

ALAA KHALAF: I was really busy.

MG: But it's important for you to be involved in all of that work.

ALAA KHALAF: Yes. I wanted to be part of this community. I wanted to give back.

MG: And so now one chapter in your life is done and off to the next thing you go, what are you going to do in the fall?

ALAA KHALAF: So I'll be moving to Kingston to attend a school of nursing at Queen's University. And I'm proud to be the first in my family to attend university. Both my parents didn't have the privilege to go to university and now they're really proud of me.

MG: What does it mean to them?

ALAA KHALAF: It means a lot. They're my biggest supporters for sure.

MG: Congratulations on everything you've done.

ALAA KHALAF: Thank you.

MG: And good luck.

ALAA KHALAF: Thanks.

MG: Alaa Khalaf is graduating from George S. Henry Academy in Toronto.

[Music].

MG: Now, I like to bring to the stage the entire graduating class of St. Stephen's, all grade school in the outport community of [unintelligible] East, Newfoundland. Please welcome Lydia Hart. Hi Lydia.

MG: Good morning.

LYDIA HART: Good morning.

MG: Congratulations.

LYDIA HART: Well, thank you so much.

MG: Can you explain this? How are you, the entire graduating class here? It's a class of one.

LYDIA HART: It is a class of one. My community is very small. There's a total population of about one hundred and thirty people. And ever since kindergarten, I have been the lone student and I've really enjoyed the experience. But I'm so ready to have more.

MG: If I could imagine what it did. Can you just briefly and practically explain how that works if you're the lone student in the class?

LYDIA HART: As a lone student, I spent a lot of time with other grades in classrooms that were multigraded. So I got to help people that were younger than me and learn a little bit ahead by joining people that were in higher grades. It was very close knit because I just got to mingle with everybody because I was on my own. So I got to collaborate with everyone is just a great experience over the last 12 years.

MG: You have a lot going on. You've won a 100,000 dollars scholarship to recognise your community leadership. What do you remember about learning that you'd won the scholarship?

LYDIA HART: Oh, wow. It's kind of a blur because I was so excited. I really didn't think I had the chance at even being considered for this award. I remember crying and dancing. I was just so overwhelmed. I really didn't expect it at all.

MG: Tell me about why - and the work that you've done, why you got picked for this. I mentioned it. It was recognising you community leadership. What have you done to change your community?

LYDIA HART: I have tried very hard. Ever since I was a little girl to be who I am without people judging me for it. So at the age of 11, I came out of the closet and I am the first person to be living in rural Canada and the openly bisexual. And by doing that, more people became used to the idea of having somebody in their community who was openly attracted to someone of the same sex. I also create awareness for mental health by talking about my own struggles. I try to do whatever I can to create awareness for causes that need awareness.

MG: You mentioned wanting to have more classmates. These are strange times. So nothing is the way that perhaps it should be. But what are you looking forward to in the fall? Where will the fall take you?

LYDIA HART: I recently just got an apartment with my best friend, so I will be moving to St. John's and studying behavioural neuroscience at Memorial University.

MG: Fantastic.

LYDIA HART: Although it's going to be online, I still want to move away from home to start a new life and be closer to my classmates, even if we are connecting virtual reality.

MG: Why behavioural neuroscience?

LYDIA HART: As a kid, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety and I had to take medication for a while and at first I felt very weak for having to do this. But my psychologist really helped me understand that it's OK to need extra help and that mental illness is the same as any physical illness. I want to do the same for other people who are struggling with mental illness. And I also want to find more effective ways to treat mental illness and better programmes that get people more involved.

MG: What are you looking forward to most about living in the big city?

LYDIA HART: I am looking for her to people not knowing everything about me, I am looking forward to driving a car because we don't have cars in my community. I'm just looking forward to living my own life and getting out in the world.

MG: I'm excited for you. Congratulations.

LYDIA HART: Thank you so much.

MG: Good luck. Lydia Hart is a graduating class, the entire graduating class of 2020 at St. Stephen's, all grade school in her encounter, East Newfoundland's.

MG: You're listening to a special celebration of the Canadian high school class of 2020. Here on The Current. This is Music by Jennifer Jeon on violin. Catherine Deng on piano. Two graduating students from the Western Canada High School Band programme. Coming up, our valedictorian's plus words of inspiration from indigenous leader Max Fine Day. And the president of the Toronto Raptors, Masai Ujiri. I'm Matt Galloway. We're back in 90 seconds.

[Music]

MG: Hello, I'm Matt Galloway. This is a special edition of The Current. A celebration of high school graduation for the class of 2020. Since nothing really feels normal these days, we wanted to give that class of 2020 a proper Send-Off. We have dignitaries on our virtual stage prepared to address the graduating class and our valedictorians. But first, back to the academic procession. Our last grad to walk across the stage is Naia Lee.

[Music]

MG: Naia Lee is graduating from the I.B. programme, the International Baccalaureate from Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School in Vancouver. She's also an organiser with the climate action group Sustainabiliteens. Naia, good morning and congratulations to you.

NAIA LEE: Good morning. Thank you.

MG: How's it feel to be done high school?

NAIA LEE: Definitely a little bit surreal. I mean, the past few months have been not really what anyone was expecting in terms of COVID-19. And so it was just really a roller coaster over the past year and then particularly of the past few months.

MG: And then what are your plans for the next year?

NAIA LEE: Yeah, so I actually haven't quite decided yet. I'm choosing between attending McMaster University for the Arts and Science Programme, or taking- I was initially planning to take a gap year with a few friends to do some cross-country travel and provide some opportunities for other climate groups that we're connected with to have some of the same supports that we have had over the past few years. But obviously, with COVID-19, it's a little bit harder to travel cross-country. And so we're trying to figure out if we're going to do some similar climate justice work in the Lower Mainland here in schools or with environmental organisations, or if I'm going to take classes online or do both or potentially work. So there's a lot of possibilities.

MG: How are you weighing those different options? I mean, aside from the travel piece, which is sort of out of your hands, what's going into that decision about whether you defer a year and focus on activism or you go to university?

NAIA LEE: It's a really difficult decision for me because especially since this school year was cut short and I was really looking forward to finishing the International Baccalaureate programme and focus on my academics, because for so much of this year, I've been involved with climate organising. But then at the same time, I'm constantly thinking about the urgency of the climate crisis and sort of the twin challenges of both climate change and also inequity that comes with the climate crisis. And so for me, it's a difficult issue for sure.

MG: Absolutely. You've been in this for a minute with Sustainabiliteens as well. Tell me a little bit about what you were doing with them.

NAIA LEE: Sustainabiliteens is the climate strike group for Metro Vancouver. We started striking in December of 2018 and we've slowly grown as the global school strike movement has grown. We peaked last September 27 with about a 175,000 in Vancouver. So that was the largest protests in Vancouver history. And we also hosted Gretta Thunberg, who popularised the strike movement last October. And we're just sort of branching out, trying to figure out how to expand to the rest of Metro Vancouver and potentially the rest of Lower Mainland.

MG: What do you see as the potential for your graduating class? I mean, we're seeing protests around the world right now, and many of them are being led by young people. You mentioned the Fris for future demonstrations and walkouts as well. So given how uncertain things are, what do you see as the potential for your graduating class?

NAIA LEE: I think a lot more people in our graduating class now are aware of so many of the issues that are intersecting and that are affecting so many people around the world and affecting them at different rates like climate change. And so I think there really is potential, particularly now that we've experienced something that we've never experienced before in terms of a global pandemic. To be able to understand that something other than quote unquote, normal is possible and that we can actually show solidarity to communities who are most affected, whether it's by climate change or by a pandemic or by racism, and really enforced that we have a commitment to doing more than the bare minimum. And I think it's it's a really interesting phenomenon that there are so many protests going on right now because it's showing that we're able to potentially not go back to just normal after COVID-19 and indeed try and build a better world. And I think the class of 2020 is definitely going to be a part of that.

MG: I'm excited for your future and for the change that you're going to bring, whatever you end up doing. Thank you.

NAIA LEE: Thank you.

MG: Naia, congratulations.

NAIA LEE: Thanks.

MG: Naia Lee is a member of the class of 2020 at Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School in BenQ.

[Music].

MG: We are meeting some impressive young Canadians today, and that is also true for our two valedictorians. It's an honour to welcome to our stage Shubhkarman Jaura and Alisther De Dastro. They are co valedictorians at Maple's Collegiate in Winnipeg. Thanks for playing that role for us today. And congratulations.

SHUBHKARMAN JAURA: Thank you so much, Matt. I'm really glad to be here.

ALLISTHER DE CASTRO: Thank you.

MG: How does it feel? And I'll start with you, Shubhkarman. How does it feel to be at the end of this part of your academic journey?

SHUBHKARMAN JAURA: I would say it is something that we have been waiting for such a long time. We were lost, excited. Unfortunately, yes. Things did not go as planned. However, just enthusiasm is still here and we are still quite excited.

MG: What about you, Allisther, how does it feel to be done, this part of your life?

ALLISTHER DE CASTRO: It is pretty devastating to think that we've waited and worked so hard for four years and we suddenly find out that we can't walk across this stage and get our diploma in front of our friends and families. But as graduates of 2020, we have to understand that the safety and security of our community is stop priority, especially at times like these.

MG: You both have incredible achievements to this point in your life. I want to just run through sort of a day in the life for you at school in addition to having, you know, incredible marks. And that leads you in part to being the valedictorians. You're both on student council executive. You volunteer at the Cancer Society bake to raise money for charity. You mentor younger students, Shubh. How do you fit it all in?

SHUBHKARMAN JAURA: I would say that it's all about time management skills and it's about the passion. If we really want to do something, we always get the time to do. So, for example, if we have this science project going on, are making the payload to send in the space.

MG: Did you make a payload that would go into outer space?

SHUBHKARMAN JAURA: Yes, we did make a payload. And it's supposed to go into the space at April 22nd. But what ended up happening because of CoOVID-19, we're not able to execute our plans. It was quite a [unintelligible] year.

MG: That's an incredible accomplishment. You arrived in Canada Allisther about a year ago, is that correct?

ALLISTHER DE CASTRO: Yes, I did.

MG: Moving is such a big thing. And moving when you're this age can be really complicated as well. What was it like coming to a brand new school for the last grade of high school?

ALLISTHER DE CASTRO: Moving to Canada in general has been really difficult for me. And as a new immigrant and normal, you face a lot of challenges. I've lived in the Philippines for 17 years and I left most of my relatives and friends that I grew up with. But I guess I can say that it is an amazing experience because I get to meet and befriend people as well as getting to know their culture.

MG: What about for you, Shubh? You came here about three years ago.

SHUBHKARMAN JAURA: Yes, correct.

MG: What was that like coming to a new school? What was what was that like for you?

SHUBHKARMAN JAURA: Settling in the first two months in the high school were not as much fun as I expected. Yes, I was lost in a like a big school. I was afraid and nervous, too. And then there was the other part of the story. And that was like I was able to understand most of my friends, but they were not able to understand me as a result. I ended up sitting in the corner the classroom, sitting in silence. It was a little bit frustrating [unintelligible]. I had two choices and had to choose one. The first one was either to suffocate in silence, sitting in the classroom and follow the rest of the crowd. Or second to go out of my comfort zone like my parents take on new challenges and to something that makes me feel proud. And I certainly chose the second thoughts and I'm so grateful that I did so.

MG: So now you graduated. What are you going to do this fall, Allisther?

ALLISTHER DE CASTRO: I am proud to say that I have been accepted to the University of Manitoba this fall and I am currently deciding between pursuing a career in either health care or in business.

MG: Amazing. Congratulations. Thank you so much. Shubh, for you. You have a bit of a head start when it comes to your fall because you got a hundred thousand dollar scholarship?

SHUBHKARMAN JAURA: Yes.

MG: That's amazing.

SHUBHKARMAN JAURA: Thankful.

MG: What are your plans with that?

SHUBHKARMAN JAURA: I will be pursuing my studies at the University of Alberta. And the scholarship will cover all of my expenses. And I'm quite grateful to the Charlotte Leaders Foundation. I will be studying in engineering. And I'm planning to do my minors in business as well.

MG: You're both incredible students and you're more than just the marks that you have achieved, which are excellent. You're also well-rounded in your curious and you're engaged in the community that you're in. Congratulations.

SHUBHKARMAN JAURA: Thank you so much.

ALLISTHER DE CASTRO: Thanks a lot for your nice words.

MG: I can't wait to hear your speech. Here we go. This is Shubhkarman Jaura and Allisther DeCastro. Here is their valedictorian speech.

SOUNDCLIP

SHUBHKARMAN JAURA: This year really is one for the history books, from standing up for racial equality and fighting against climate change to tracking a deadly pandemic on our cell phones. The class of 2020 has seen a lot.

ALLISTHER DE CASTRO: 1381 days of high school officially coming to a close at this very moment, a moment that we'll remember and cherish for the rest of our lives.

SHUBHKARMAN JAURA: All those lengthy tests with sweated through, the essays we wrote, the assignments we submitted just in time, and all those gazillions of requirements from grade nine to 12. And yet there are many more assignments to be completed in real life.

ALLISTHER DE CASTRO: Now, as students, we commonly say the phrase: it's time. From the bell rang, it's time for lunch. To: it's time, I haven't finished my chemistry test yet. And we're all guilty of saying this during last period. I don't even understand what's on the board, but it's time to go.

SHUBHKARMAN JAURA: And as seniors enjoying our final year? The last thing we want to think is it's time to say goodbye. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, we never really got the chance to.

ALLISTHER DE CASTRO: It was as if the clock stopped taking in March. And all our exciting plans we've had for the rest of the school year froze before our eyes.

SHUBHKARMAN JAURA: Dear graduates. Well, you might not have the senior year we always imagined, but we did get something much more meaningful, quicker, strong, resilient and able to support each other during the hard times.

ALLISTHER DE CASTRO: Fellow graduates take a moment to think about those around you. These are the people who held our hands and guided us to where we are right now, to our families for providing us with endless love and support since the very beginning to our beloved teachers and administrators for embracing us like your own children. We will never forget you because of you. We walked out the doors of our high school as completely different individuals from when we started.

SHUBHKARMAN JAURA: We became stronger, we became wiser and we became better.

ALLISTHER DE CASTRO: My dear graduates, repeat after me.

BOTH: We are unstoppable. We are legends. We are the class of twenty 20.

MG: Thank you, Shubhkamar Jaura and Allisther DeCastro, our valedictorian's for the class of 2020. Not all roads to graduation are the same. And that was true even before a global pandemic arrived. Lance Sampson didn't follow a traditional route that did not stop him, though, from crossing that stage. Eventually, he graduated from Nova Scotia Community College in Halifax. Lance is also the founding member of the music group Aquaculture. Lance, welcome to our ceremony.

LANCE SAMPSON: Good morning. How are you? How's everybody?

MG: Everyone's OK. I mean, high school and graduating, whether it's high school or whether it's college or university, is such a big thing. If you're a teenager, that's such a huge part of your life. And everything changes in that moment. What were your teenage years like?

LANCE SAMPSON: My teenage years, to say the least, were kind of not really teenage years. Between like the ages of 15 and 19, I was in and out of youth facilities. I was in the streets doing my thing.

MG: You and when you say youth facilities. I mean, you're talking about like youth jails and stuff.

LANCE SAMPSON: Yes. I wasn't really taken high school that seriously. And I wish I would have and I kind of regret that now. So I really congratulate everybody who's graduating this year because it's something that I kind of I'm kind of jealous about that I didn't really take it too seriously. So I really appreciate the youth and the kids that are that have been taking it seriously.

MG: How did you end up on that road, on that path?

LANCE SAMPSON: Well, I mean, they're kind of like the neighbourhood I grew up in. I mean, it was kind of normalised just that that culture was so surrounding in my area that it was just kind of like, it wasn't looked at as like something bad. I just felt like I want to be accepted by people my age growing up, mainly dudes, just like putting on this persona for them that I really didn't need to. I got to certain age. I just started to realise that I didn't even have to do all I didn't. Didn't you have to put on that persona. I just could have been myself.

MG: What was the turning point? When did you realise that there was a different way ahead?

LANCE SAMPSON: Well, it was a hard road that I felt like because my personality that I have to go through to really understand. So you go into an adult jail, Springhill, for instance, when I got my federal sentence, like when I went in there and kind of start seeing everybody who I kind of looked up to that were inside doing time. They weren't even the people who I thought they might have might have been. You know, I mean, I've gotten there and they're just trying to do the exact same thing, like they're trying to find who they are. They're reading books, the reasonable history, you know, I mean, like, I thought I was going to go in there being greeted by a bunch of people who like all these stories that I heard about them, you know, I mean, being greeted by that. But I was just greeted by people who are generally just trying to be themselves. So when I saw that, I was just like, man, why am I even trying to pretend to be someone who I ain't. On top of that spent in that time away from my family, I had a lot of things going on in my life outside of prison, like family members passing away, friends passing away, like having like a real serious health scare while I was in there. So all these things just kind of- And you and you and you got the time to reflect on all that stuff, too. So you finally get the time to think about who it is you want to be as a person. I had no other choice but to just listen to myself and the thoughts that were coming up.

MG: You talked about not really taking high school that seriously. And so you ended up kind of missing that graduation.

LANCE SAMPSON: I did, yes.

MG: But you did get to be part of a graduation for trade school.

LANCE SAMPSON: I did. Yeah. I mean, I still eventually did end up getting my high school diploma, but didn't end up going to the graduation ceremony. But when I did finally get out and when I went to trade school for [unintelligible], it was really good to kind of be a part of that. And I just felt like that graduation ceremony for me kind of felt like this is a first step in complete, like one of my goals, you know, I mean, like I have always had a lot to like when I was inside, I always had this set of goals that I want to do. I want to go to a trade school. I want to become something. And that graduation ceremony was that was the first step. It was really great. It was just really, really hot that day. And I was sweating.

MG: And so imagine if you were standing on the stage and the class of 2020 is walking by you. It's your opportunity to give them some advice as they go off into the universe and whatever they're going to do next. What's that piece of advice that you'd give to the class of 2020?

LANCE SAMPSON: I would always say anything that you're trying to do, do it right, do it with passion and always be aware of the history behind what you're doing too. Everybody's a student throughout your whole life. Don't ever shut that off. There's a lot of unlearn that has to be done to. So just be aware and it's going to be hard. No doubt about it. But, you know, just make sure you surround yourself with good people, good energy, and in the end, it'll come back to you.

MG: You have a song that we're going to dedicate to the grads of 2020 called Pay It Forward. Tell me about the song.

LANCE SAMPSON: Pay forward. It's their message. Whatever energy that you put it eventually always comes back to you. So there's always- just try to be good. Stay true to who you are. Treat others with respect. Listen.

MG: Why do you think that's a message that the grads of 2020 need to hear?

LANCE SAMPSON: Because whatever road they take, whether they're going to continue their schooling through post-secondary, going to university, it's going to be [unintelligible]. And I feel like the way you get around dealing with a lot of hard stuff is just surrounding yourself with that good energy. The more that you do good for others, you'll receive that same. I've always lived like that and it's worked for me.

[Music starts]

MG: I Congratulations on what you've accomplished.

LANCE SAMPSON: Matt, thank you so much. I really appreciate it. Life is amazing. And we just got to make sure that we continue to do good to others and be good to ourselves.

SOUNDCLIP

[Song]

MG: That was Aquaculture with a song dedicated to the class of 2020. It's called Pay It Forward. It's from an album called Legacy, which just made the 2020 Polaris music prize long list. As we near the end of our special convocation ceremony, we have two final speakers here to share some words of wisdom with you grads. First, I would like to call to the stage indigenous leader and executive director of Canadian Roots Exchange. Max Fineday.

SOUNDCLIP

Congratulations to the class of 2020. I can't imagine what a surreal experience this is for you, graduating, of course, during the middle of a pandemic. And also during the middle of a time when so much of our country is in protest. Of course, my graduation story, my graduation experience was so much different than yours was. I had the banquet. I had the dance. I had all of the pomp and the circumstance, the grad photos and the cap and gown. That day was really important for me. I think it was really important for my family, too. I remember on that day thinking a lot of my dad, my dad is a residential school survivor. He was taken from his home and his parents, his community, everything he knew when he was six years old. As I was crossing that stage, I was imagining I was thinking about all the things that he's had to overcome, all that he had to overcome so early. Even younger than I was. [unintelligible] right now to get to where he was at that time. That's achievement. At the time of graduation, it's a time to reflect on all you're going to give to your community. What you're going to give back? How you're going to help make this place better. For the graduating class of 2020, no other generation, no other graduating class has had the opportunity that you have to transform our country. I hope you accept that challenge. I help you think about achievement. I hope you think about aspiration, and I hope you think about all the ways in which you want to contribute back to your community. Now, I wish you well, I wish you congratulations and I wish you the best of luck.

MG: Thank you, Max Fine day. Finally, please welcome back the president of the Toronto Raptors, Masai Ujiri, earlier this morning, we spoke about anti-racism leadership and why he thinks today's youth have the opportunity to build a better future for us all. And now he will leave us with his message for Canada's class of 2020.

SOUNDCLIP

I think is a time to dream big. Be bold. You know, I can think of life differently, especially with all the times we are going through now. So for me, I encourage them so much to be really, really bold and dream big now. And don't look at this moment as a negative, you know. So once in a lifetime, right. We still have life. We still have health. By the grace of God. So we continue to go. As I said, it's time to be bold. It's time to see themselves, you know, like a load different. Think a load different, you know. And imagine yourself being the change because all these kids are special. You know all of them. Every single one of them. God has put us in this place and put them in this place for a reason. And they are going to be great. You know, like they should feel that inside them. And the momentum of the world right now is all them. You know, like so I. I wish them the best of luck. I congratulate them. And I know they're going to do great things in their life.

MG: Thank you. Masai Ujiri, before we leave you, there is one final thing we need to do to complete a grad's ceremony after you walk across that stage and you get your diploma. You have to move the tassel from one side to the other. Here's how that sounded at the outdoor ceremony for the grads of a Ecole Mc Tavish public high school in Fort McMurray.

SOUNDCLIP

We want the parents to be somewhat involved or a family member or a friend, if that's who you have here with, because moving the tassels is a big part of the ceremony. And we can't do that. We can't move your tassel. It's going to start on the right side and it's going to go to the left. If your friend, a parent wants to come up, they're going to move your tassel. We'll take another picture of you with your parents or your friends, and then you guys will head back to where your car is.

Now, hold on a second before you drive off. We've one final thing to do; to toss the caps in the air. Ready? Three, two, one.

[Applause and cheers]

MG: Go. Fantastic, congratulations to the class of 2020. May not have been the most traditional and high school. Some traditions, though, can't be beat even by a pandemic. Join us tomorrow when we celebrate the post-secondary grad class of 2020. You can listen to The Current, of course, live anywhere on your phone or your tablet. You can catch up on anything you missed through the CBC Listen app. Coming up next on your CBC Radio one, it's Q. That's right after the CBC News. I'm Matt Galloway. Thanks for listening to The Current. Take care. We'll talk to you tomorrow.

The Current Transcript for June 17, 2020

STORIES FROM THIS EPISODE

Prologue

Amid anti-Black racism protests, Masai Ujiri urges people to ask: 'Who are you as a person?'

What it's like to graduate high school in the middle of a pandemic

Wednesday June 17, 2020 Transcript

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