Former intern delivers sneakers to entire Montreal-area high school for back-to-school
After working as an intern at James Lyng High School, Julian Grau-Brown wanted to do something special for the students there.
As someone who wants to become an educator, he said everyone deserves to start the school year off on the right foot.
So, he bought 155 pairs of new shoes.
It took a rental van to deliver all the boxes to the school in South-West Montreal, and a whole team of volunteers helped unload so many colourful new kicks.
Now studying at McGill University, Grau-Brown remembers his time at this high school.
"I was here as a behaviour technician so I came here and helped the kids out and guided them with classes and helped them whenever they needed my help," he said.
He enjoyed the experience and wanted to offer the students a gift for the back-to-school season.
"Every year I wanted to start school off with a brand new pair of kicks, of fresh shoes and I know that’s not available to everyone so I said, 'if I can check that box for a family or a whole school, why not do it?'" he said.
Grau-Brown started a gofundme page and raised more than $3,200.
Not as much as the $5,000 he wanted, but still enough to buy shoes for every student in the school – without any corporate sponsorship help.
He then got everyone’s shoe size, bought some great new shoes and delivered them to James Lyng High School.
Principal Lino Buttino couldn't believe it.
“He got the shoes! I said 'holy mackeral, wow ok,'" said Buttino.
Buttino added that "Julian is exceptional in being a man of his word and he came through!"
The local Desjardins Bank also kicked in homework supplies for a big giveaway.
Grade 11 student Nyzaya McLean-Gordon said, “We're all really grateful and appreciate it a lot.”
“Not a lot of people have the opportunity to get these shoes, this is great,” said student Guandique Richards, holding his new Nikes aloft.
Vice-Principal Andrea Dillon added that the school wants to set the students up for success.
"All the students need to start the year on the same level," she said. "We're giving them equal opportunity to have what they need for their lessons."
The lesson today was that one person can make a big impact.
Laughing, Julian said he feels like a kid too.
"I’m giving them out to the youth but I'm still a youth so I have a connection with these kids," he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Three dead, two hospitalized, following collision in Fredericton: police
Three people have died and two have been hospitalized after a speeding car struck a tree and landed on another vehicle in Fredericton Sunday morning.
Amid climate change warnings, Canadians lukewarm on electric vehicles
Amid scientists' warnings that nations need to transition away from fossil fuels to limit climate change, Canadians are still lukewarm on electric vehicles, according to a study conducted by Nanos Research for CTV News.
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Madonna's biggest-ever concert transforms Rio's Copacabana beach into a massive dance floor
Madonna put on a free concert on Copacabana beach Saturday night, turning Rio de Janeiro's vast stretch of sand into an enormous dance floor teeming with a multitude of her fans.
1 person killed and 23 injured in a bus crash in northern Maryland, police say
One person was killed and 23 others were injured when a bus crashed early Sunday on Interstate 95 in northern Maryland, police said.
Nylander defends Leafs' core after playoff exit, Toronto again picks up the pieces
William Nylander stood in a solemn visitors locker room at TD Garden just before midnight. The Maple Leafs had battled back from a 3-1 series deficit against the Boston Bruins with consecutive 2-1 victories - including one that required extra time - in their first-round playoff series to push the club's Original Six rival to the limit before suffering a devastating Game 7 overtime loss. Nylander's message was emphatic.
El Nino weakening doesn't mean cooler temperatures this summer, forecasters say
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
‘Love has no boundaries’: Sask. couple in their 90s and 80s get married
Eighty-two-year-old Susan Neufeldt and 90-year-old Ulrich Richter are no spring chickens, but their love blossomed over the weekend with their wedding at Pine View Manor just outside of Rosthern.
Video shows gaggle of geese stopping traffic on Highway 1 near Vancouver
A mother goose and her goslings caused a bit of a traffic jam on a busy stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway near Vancouver Saturday.