"As you head out of the school, I want to acknowledge the incredible challenges you met together; the meaningful conversations, the brave responses to a relentlessly, ever-changing context; the art that you created on our stages and in our classrooms – works of beauty, bravery, and passion. The work you created is not despite the rigours of your unique journey. It is because you met the challenge that your art is uniquely powerful."

May your future selves remember to cherish the friendships you have developed with each other – your dedication to each other is unique and valuable.

I have observed these two students unfailingly care for and support one another as they navigated the rigorous demands of this program.  I also observed the potential for an awkward but endearing stand-up comedy double act.

Theatre – the best theatre – asks us to see people as they really are, not as we wish them to be.  And while we might see things we don’t like, the decision to see people, to see the world, as we actually are is a compassionate one.

During the last year, you made us think, dream and travel with your creations. I would have liked to keep a few pieces of the poetic and evocative universes that you brought to the world.

Rivières is a series of documentary performances about the resident of Côte-des-Neiges. This project brought together eight citizens from this very multi-ethnic neighbourhood, and invited the public to wander through the Côte-des-Neiges Community Recreation Centre to meet them and listen to their stories.