Head of School tribute to Queen Elizabeth II

It is with a heavy heart that I write this message in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, Canada's head of state and the longest-reigning British monarch, who passed today at the age of 96 years old.

The Queen came to the throne in 1952 and witnessed enormous social change. Her 70-year reign spanned 15 British prime ministers starting with Winston Churchill, born in 1874, and including Ms Truss, born 101 years later in 1975.

This historical passing will undoubtedly impact the global community as a whole. We understand that members of our community will react to this news in a multitude of ways. No matter one’s personal connection, it is important to mark a significant historical event where the world has lost a leader who was widely regarded with deep respect and affection.

Throughout STS’s history, Queen Elizabeth II has been a model, as we nurture our students to live lives of purpose through service, working hard, and a strong belief in forging grit, rigour, and teamwork. As a School, we have deep respect and admiration for The Queen because of her commitment to service and duty – she made tremendous sacrifices to be a strong role model. It is incredible to consider what Her Majesty saw and did during her remarkable reign, and her values of humility, kindness, perseverance, and taking a global perspective are ones we share. With this in mind, we will continue to strive for our students to flourish in all areas and to be inspired to make a difference in the world.

As a testament to our School’s long-time connection to Queen Elizabeth II, we were so proud to have Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School included in the commemorative book created in dedication to the Queen’s Jubilee, which was released this summer.

During this period of mourning, our thoughts are with the Queen’s family, who above all else, have lost a mother, a grandmother, a great-grandmother, an aunt ... the depth of her connections to multiple generations is prolific. The flags on our STS campus have been lowered to half-mast in honour of a remarkable leader and human.

With respect,

Mrs. Carol Grant-Watt
Head of School