Ross Shep BSA

The 5th Annual Black Student ALLiance Summit

The Alberta High School Black Student Association Summit: Year 5!

You’re Invited! Join us for the 5th annual High School Black Students Association Summit on May 24, 2025, at Lilian Osborn School. Hosted by Africa Centre in close collaboration with teachers and success coaches from Lillian Osborne, M.E. LaZerte, Queen Elizabeth, and Ross Sheppard schools, alongside the Young Afro-Canadian Organization, this year’s summit celebrates youth leadership, community building, and meaningful dialogue among Black high school students. We warmly invite Black youth from your school to participate and encourage teachers to attend as well. Please register students who will be joining us by completing this form. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, inspire, and grow together! Please reach out to Liyu Gebrewold at liyu.makonnen@africacentre.ca if you have any questions.

RegisterNOW!

2025 EDMONTON BSA Summit Interviews and REFLECTIONS

This year at the BSA Summit many of our BSA's wanted an opportunity to reflect on their experiences as members of a school student group and they also wanted an opportunity to share their future plans as members of the young Black Community in Edmonton. This video captures their reflections and also allowed them to pass the mic to their fellow family members accross the city. Very Special Thanks to Harry Ainlay's BSA's for sparking this initiative and for connecting with all youth

SHEP BSA Black HIstory: Every DAy, week & YEar (24/7)

Coming together and representing the Culture: SHEP BSA HOMECOMING COOKOUT

Every year at Ross Sheppard High School during the homecoming months (September-October), we the Black Student Alliance host a school wide cookout and fundraiser for our BSA. We offer food from all regions of the African/Carribean/South American diaspora as well as African American Cuisine. This event is open to all students and staff at Ross Sheppard High School. We offer a live DJ, dance floor, interactive games and a full introduction to our BSA members and staff.

SHEP BSA

SHEP BSA SPEAKER SERIES: All generations sharing wisdom and connecting on a personal level.

A very important task of any BSA is better understanding our path in this ever changing world. One way that we as a BSA aim to support one another is by activley engaging with members in our community that have made significant contributions to the Black community and the Afircan Diaspora. Athletes, artists, engineers, poets, doctors, lawyers, professors, hip hop artists: we aim to connect with all areas of our community and we also aim to insprie the next generation of leaders here in our city. In 2025 we were visited by Mr. Jermaine Bucknor. Jermaine Bucknor (born November 1, 1983) is a Canadian professional basketball coach and former player currently working as an assistant coach for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He visited Ross Shep (his alma mater) and shared vital information with Shep BSA as well as the Ross Sheppard Thunderbirds Basketball teams. A story of resilience, hard work, faith and love for the game. These are the stories that greatly impact the future of the culture.

SHEP BSA

Giving Back and Paying it forward: Christina Daniel Givology

A student from Ross Sheppard High School brought a non-profit charity initiative to life at her high school on Sunday.Christina Daniel, a Grade 11 student, came up with 'Givology RSHS' after running a clothing and food drive at her high school last year."What happened at that time was that some students became homeless, and there were some students who told us that they really needed clothes and really needed food, and so we let them take it," Daniel told CTV News Edmonton on Sunday."I realized that we're donating so much to the community that we should donate it straight toward the students at our community and our school and within this entire city," the 16-year-old added.People who showed up to the free event were given a bag that could be filled with various necessities including clothing, accessories, food and hygiene products for all genders.

Black History Month in Edmonton: We are the future

Almost twenty years passed before Canada officially recognized Black History Month. A motion to establish Black History Month in Canada was introduced to the Canadian Parliament by the Honorable Jean Augustine, who had made her own contribution to Black Canadian history as the first Black Canadian woman elected to Parliament. In December 1995, Ms. Augustine’s motion was carried unanimously by the House of Commons and Black History Month found a new home on the Canadian calendar. Black Canadians have a remarkable history in Canada. More than escaped slaves, athletes, and entertainers, Black Canadians have been explorers, translators, soldiers, scholars, entrepreneurs, and community leaders starting from the time long before Confederation.

28 Days of Black Excellence: Our Story, Vision and Journey

In an effort to provide the youth with a voice during this very important month in Edmonton, Alberta and Canada. Ross Sheppard’s Black Student Alliance would like to welcome and thank you for agreeing to be a part of Ross Sheppard High School’s 28 days of Black History and Black Now! The following is the series of Instagram takeovers that will be made by students here at our school. Each day you will have access to the stories in the BSA Account and you will be able to share history about your community, your languages, you culture, your ethnicity, your roots and what you feel will be the most important advice to the Black youth of today. You can submit photos, videos, collages, poetry, music, cuisine recommendations, support your local and global Black businesses, you have free range for 24 hours on the BSA instagram.

SHEP BSA

Ross Sheppard High School Black History Month Gala

On behalf of the Ross Sheppard BSA we would like to invite you all to the inaugural BSA Black History Month Gala! Our Event/programming includes:

An interactive Art Gallery headed by Lamia, Mackenzie, Clement, and Justin from our Shep BSA and they are also Art class students in our school. They have created close to 20 different paintings, sketches, graffiti, and digital art.

MAKE YOUR OWN ART BOOTH: this year one of our amazing students Quincy Jordan and his father Darren Jordan (Director of City of Edmonton and the Art Gallery of Alberta’s 5 artists one love celebration and art exhibit) have partnered with our Shep BSA to host a live and interactive painting and coloring booth for all attendees of our event. A live Fashion Show from 1-2pm. Featuring models from Shep's own BSA as well as our beloved Ross Sheppard student population. An interactive Black History Panel: We are welcoming our dignitaries as well as our exec team and JP BSA to an open and informative Black History panel .

An African and Caribbean Buffet!: We are making Traditional Eritrean/Ethiopian Injera, Somali Cuisine, & Barbecue/Jerk Chicken, and African American Mac and Cheese. We are also hosting a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony at our event and we welcome all elders of our students as well as staff to partake in this highly impactful cultural practice. A Live Dance performance by Jasper Place High School and Jasper Place Black Student Association (MIRAGE)

Last but certainly not least our event will be visited by our city’s honorable mayor Mr. Amarjeet Sohi He will be attending our event at 12:30pm and will bring greetings from the City of Edmonton Mayor’s office.

Ross Shep BSA Gala

BSA MOVIE NIGHT: Popcorn, Good vibes, Great company

Each year we as a BSA try to offer activities and events that allow us to bond as a team, as a school and a community. We have hosted the movie night and we have also been very fortunate to be sponsored by West Edmonton Mall Theatres as well as the Manning Theatres in Edmonton. Students vote on the movies that they would like to see, friends and family are invited as well as our amazing BSA's accross the city and province. Its a collective effort to have a positive event with each other.

Movies we have attended as a BSA Family:

Black Panther 1: City Centre Edmonton Theatres
Wakanda Forever (Black Panther 2): Manning Theatres Edmonton
The Woman King: Landmark Theatres St. Albert
Bob Marley: One Love (biography) West Edmonton Mall Theatres
Spiderman Accross the Spiderverse (Ross Sheppard Theatres Edmonton)

SHEP BSA Black History All Star Weekend: More than a game

Saturday Feb.22, 2026 at Ross Sheppard High School, 13546 111 Ave, from 12:00pm-3:00pm, The NBCC & Edmonton Stingers are offering a FREE city wide camp, uplifting the Black community and our friends, while connecting our youth to multiple generations of Black excellence in the game of Basketball. Our camp and tourney will feature community coaches, and will be organized and ran by the Edmonton Stingers official community ambassador: Mr. Andrew G. Parker (BA, BEd, MEd 2025). Saturday afternoon of the BHASW we will host similar events to the NBA All star game via the Stingers, coach Parker & the NBCC. Our event will host up to 60 children, ages 6-17, and we will offer an afternoon camp and mini tournament (For Free). In addition to basketball, our camp and tournament will also feature the NBCC All Star Community Brunch held in the Ross Sheppard High School (from 2:30pm-3:00pm).

Black History All Star Weekend

ROSS SHEP MULTICULTURAL DAY: Stronger Together

Ross Sheppard Multiculturalism Day is celebrated annually, honoring the diverse cultural communities that contribute to Canada's strength and vibrancy. It's an opportunity to celebrate diversity, reaffirm commitments to equity, inclusion, and mutual respect. Key aspects of Canadian Multiculturalism Day:

Celebration of Diversity: The day is a time to recognize and appreciate the rich tapestry of cultures that make up Canadian society.

Commitment to Inclusion: It encourages Canadians to embrace and respect differences, fostering a more inclusive and understanding society.

Educational Opportunity: Multiculturalism Day serves as a platform to learn about different cultures and their contributions to Canada.

Not just a celebration: It also provides an opportunity to reflect on Canada's values, past, and future as a society.

SHEP BSA

4th annual Edmotnon BSA Summit

You’re Invited! Join us for the 4th annual High School Black Students Association Summit on May 24, 2025, at Lilian Osborn School.Hosted by Africa Centre in close collaboration with teachers and success coaches from Lilian Osborn, M.E. LaZerte, Queen Elizabeth, and Ross Sheppard schools, alongside the Young Afro-Canadian Organization, this year’s summit celebrates youth leadership, community building, and meaningful dialogue among Black high school students.We warmly invite Black youth from your school to participate and encourage teachers to attend as well. Please register students who will be joining us by completing this form.Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, inspire, and grow together! Please reach out to Liyu Gebrewold at liyu.makonnen@africacentre.ca if you have any questions.

2025 EDMONTON BSA Summit: What you need to know

Lets do it again in 2025!

Date: May 24, 2025

Time: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM (Event starts at 10:00 AM)

Location: Lilian Osborn

Expected Attendance: 250-300 students

Theme of the Event: Community Building

The day will kick off with a Land Acknowledgement, (Veronica from ME LaZerte) honoring the traditional territories of the land we gather on. Following this, a welcoming speech will set the tone for the event, encouraging students to engage in building a stronger community. One of the highlights of the morning will be an interactive Live Survey. Students will participate in real-time as results are shared instantly, helping everyone discover just how much they have in common, despite coming from different backgrounds. The questions for the Live Survey is “What makes you feel like you belong in a community?” A Teachers Panel featuring a group of Black educators will provide powerful insights into their personal journeys toward becoming teachers, shedding light on their experiences and the importance of representation in education.

In the afternoon, we’ll be inspired by a Keynote Speaker who will share their thoughts on community, leadership, and empowerment. Lunch will follow and it includes Rice, Plantain, Chicken, Mandazi/Puff puff, Vegetables and Samosas. After lunch Students will have the chance to enjoy a variety of fun activities, including sports and games organized by the BSA leaders. Activities include dancing, professional face painting, BSA boys or girls basketball game, teachers vs students, dodgeball, hide and seek, raffle tickets and candy guessing, beading station/workshop, musical chairs. To close out the day, we’ll recognize the hard work and dedication of the BSA leaders, presenting them with Certificates of Recognition to celebrate their leadership and contributions.