John Diefenbaker Senior School in Hanover will host a Black Student Family Night on April 13, 2026, as part of an ongoing effort to connect students and their families with school staff and resources. This event marks a move toward school-specific outreach, aiming to foster deeper connections within the local community.
The event builds on the Bluewater District School Board tradition of hosting regional forums for Black students, which began in 2024. These earlier gatherings, held at Grey Highlands Secondary School, brought together students from across Bruce and Grey Counties to focus on leadership and support. By bringing this engagement directly to the school level, organizers hope to create a more direct line of communication between families and the school.
The initiative is supported by the board’s commitment to equity and well-being. In 2023, the board appointed a Human Rights and Equity Advisor to help guide policies and support a culture of respect across all schools. Superintendent Keith Lefebvre has noted that the number of Black and racialized students has been increasing in various areas of the board, making targeted efforts to foster inclusion a priority for the school community.
At John Diefenbaker Senior School, Principal Maureen Radbourne and the leadership team oversee a student population of approximately 795 students in Grades 7 through 12. The current facility, which opened in 2019, continues a long history of serving the Hanover area that dates back to 1924.
Previous board-wide events have been supported by JunCtian Community Initiatives, a group dedicated to creating safe spaces for youth through arts, culture, and educational programming. These forums have played a key role in providing guest speakers and facilitators to help students connect with one another and share their experiences.
