Inner city Toronto school named after Mandela holds special tribute

A boy holds up a picture during a celebration of life to the late former president of South Africa Nelson Mandela at the Nelson Mandela Park Public School in Toronto, Friday December 6, 2013. (Mark Blinch / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

In 2001, Nelson Mandela visited an elementary school in Toronto’s low-income Regent Park neighbourhood, and told students gathered in the assembly hall that day that he was honoured to be with them as the “future leaders of the world.”

On Friday, students at the school -- renamed Nelson Mandela Park Public School in his honour -- joined people around the world in a tribute to the former South African leader, who died on Thursday.

At a makeshift memorial outside the school, students wrote chalk messages on the front steps: “Toronto remembers Mandela,” one student wrote. Another message read “U taught us love.”

Surrounded by the messages and candles was a picture of the beloved leader beside his famous quote about the power of education: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

One student expressed how meaningful it is for him to attend a school that bears Mandela’s name.

“I feel honoured that its name after a person that fights for his rights,” student Nedaa Alshimmary told CTV News.

Inside, the drummers who greeted Mandela during his 2001 visit welcomed students to a special assembly to honour Mandela’s life.

Following a moment of silence and the singing of South Africa’s national anthem, students delivered short speeches about how Mandela had inspired them.

“Nelson Mandela was a courageous leader,” one Grade 7 student said. “He will always be an important part of our school.”

The next speaker –- a Grade 8 student –- called Mandela an icon.

“Nelson Mandela is more than just a man –- he is our teacher, he is our friend. And we should all be aspiring to be like him one day,” he said.

Flags at the school and across the Toronto District School Board will be flown at half-mast until Mandela’s burial on Dec. 15.

“We will ensure that we recognize Mr. Mandela’s spirit of hope across our district,” said TDSB director Donna Quan at the school assembly.

With a report from CTV Toronto’s Naomi Parness, and CP24’s Chris Kitching