African Nova Scotian Valedictorian

VALEDICTORIAN – CLASS OF 2022 Quincie Grant

QUINCIE GRANT HAS SOLIDIFIED HIS PLACE IN NOVA SCOTIA’S HISTORY AS THE FIRST AFRICAN NOVA SCOTIAN VALEDICTORIAN OF LOCKVIEW HIGH SCHOOL IN FALL RIVER NOVA SCOTIA

By Cassandra Grosse

uincie Grant came up with the idea to deliver his valedictory speech in spoken word/prose. The idea was well-received. “I spoke with my parents and my English teacher this year, Mr. James McDougall, and he said he was completely okay with me doing whatever kind of style I felt was necessary.” As per the school’s valedictorian candidacy procedures, Grant collected supporting signatures enabling him to compete in a three-minute speak-off. As a top-three finalist, he moved on to the final speak-off before a jury of 12 teachers and 12 students to win votes for election as valedictorian.

What motivates you?

We didn’t have the greatest situation growing up. My mom was my mom at 15, a single mother still living with her parents. The narrative given to us was that we would just be another family, another broken family, with no signs of success. When my stepfather came into my life, he showed me Black excellence. As a mixed man, he’s shown me that, regardless of his race, he feels no different. My stepfather, and maybe the narrative given to me at birth, have been my biggest motivators.

What was your favourite subject in school?

It was always English — I love to write, public speaking, and really like poetry. I had a super-cool, understanding, and down-toearth English teachers in my grade 11 and 12 years. I loved just speaking out loud — you know, singing, rapping. I loved the writing process of it, I found it so mesmerizing.

Does a teacher’s investment in a student make a change?

I think the teaching role in high school is such an overlooked position. It’s really not for everybody, and it can make or break somebody. It is evident how teachers can make or break your high school experience and affect you down the line. With Mr. James McDougall, we bonded over almost everything. It may be a bit odd to say this, but I may have looked at a lot of things differently and been a different person if Mr. McDougall hadn’t made an impact. I will remember him forever.

QAre you an inspiration to your siblings? I live with my half-sister and my stepbrother. They’ve always been supersupportive. I spent my whole life with my stepbrother ever since I was maybe two. He’s my best friend. I really couldn’t ask for anybody better, he’s always had my back. We grew up playing hockey together on the exact same team. I just couldn’t get that much better than him. This year, when he made the high school varsity team and I didn’t, I thought that we were gonna lose a lot of the connection we had, but I don’t believe anything changed. I think we will always be super-close and it’s the same thing with my half-sister. She started going to school this year with us at Lockview and I think that’s only helped our relationship grow further.

Are you excited about being featured in Black to Business?

Of course, I am. I have never been in a magazine before. It is super-cool and it’s a magazine that my family has done some research on. It’s such an honour, it’s so cool. It’s like the dopest part of the summer so far!

What are your plans for the future?

I believe writing is going to be a big part of my future. I hope to become a lawyer. I have been accepted into Dalhousie University’s undergraduate degree in law, justice, and society program and was awarded a $4,500 scholarship from the Black Mentorship Program. I have a full-time summer job working for the Department of Diversity. I’m going to be working in a really cool-looking building downtown with a lot of talented African Nova Scotian, Southeast Asian, and Middle Eastern people who really want the best for our city.

Is there anything else you would like the world to know about you, Quincie Grant?

You can watch out for those Black Nova Scotians, man. Better watch out.

As we graduate today, we have accomplished just one goal, tomorrow we set more… …It’s time to do what you love, to create and satisfy your own expectations, to find your own purpose. …Life is an opportunity, and we are all opportunists. – Excerpt from Grant’s valedictory speech, June 29, 2022.