10/02/2026
Students in the Vocational Alternative Program (VAP) classroom at Balfour Collegiate have been learning about the importance of community, perseverance, remembrance, and making a positive difference through two meaningful learning experiences: Terry Fox and the Marathon of Hope, and Orange Shirt Day/Truth and Reconciliation.
Terry Fox and the Marathon of Hope
The Balfour VAP students studied the life of Terry Fox, learning about his journey, the challenges he faced, his determination, and his lasting impact on cancer research in Canada. They explored what the Marathon of Hope meant to Terry and how one person’s courage and determination inspired millions of Canadians.
As part of their learning, VAP students organized and participated in their own Marathon of Hope Walk. What started as an activity within their classroom quickly became a school-wide experience. Other Balfour classes noticed what they were doing and asked if they could join them. Students from several classes walked alongside the VAP students as they came together to raise awareness and honour Terry Fox’s message of hope, perseverance, and community.
Through this experience, students learned that we are better together and that we have more in common than we have differences. Terry Fox’s story provided an opportunity to discuss how one person can inspire others and how each of us can contribute to making our community a better place.
Orange Shirt Day and Truth and Reconciliation
The learning continued as students explored residential schools, the experiences of Indigenous children and families, survivors, and the importance of truth and reconciliation. Students discussed why we remember, what it means to be a survivor, and why learning about Canada's history is an important part of building a better future.
Those at Balfour are fortunate to have a cultural space where they can learn, ask questions, have meaningful conversations, and explore issues that affect their school and their communities. Students have been encouraged to think not only about what happened in the past, but also about what everyone can do today to create a more respectful, inclusive, and caring community.
Several classes joined Balfour’s VAP classroom for a walk to acknowledge and remember the children who attended residential schools, survivors, and their families, while also raising awareness within their school community.
Students are learning that truth and reconciliation is not something we should talk about or act upon for only one day or one week. It is an ongoing commitment to learning, listening, reflecting, and making positive choices every day. They have connected this learning to the idea that one person can make a difference—and that when people come together, that difference can become even greater.
Both experiences have helped students understand that learning should not just happen and just stay inside the classroom. We can all learn, take action, support one another, and make a positive difference in the lives of others and in our community. Together, we can help make our world a better place.
