There was much ceremony as His Excellency, the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada presented the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Gold Award to 60 deserving Canadian youth in Upper Canada College's Laidlaw Hall on Thursday, May 18.
Adair Simpson ’16 was in the group of young men and women recognized. A shout out to the Prep choir is in order for a great job of “O’ Canada” and our “Duke of Ed” club heads Nicholas, Christopher and Alexander Adolphe.
UCC has a long history of connection to the Duke of Edinburgh Awards. Five boys from UCC were among the first 18 students to receive Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Awards in Canada — presented in person by His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at a March 22, 1966 ceremony in Ottawa. His Royal Highness Prince Philip himself has served as the school’s official “Visitor” since 1955. He visited the College on Oct. 21, 1969 to present Gold Awards to nine boys at a ceremony in the quad.
More than 200 UCC students have earned Gold, Silver and Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards over the years.
