On Thursday night in Toronto, the Toronto Sport Hall of Honour celebrated the exceptional contributions and accomplishments of those who have inspired and/or brought recognition to Toronto through sport.
Among those honoured this year was Queen's football alumnus
Curtis Carmichael.
Carmichael grew up in Toronto Community Housing developments in Regent Park and Scarborough. In neighbourhoods known for high rates of poverty, drug use and violence, Curtis excelled as a student, athlete and community member and was named valedictorian of his graduating class at Birchmount Park Collegiate Institute. Receiving scholarships to Queen's University playing receiver with the football program, Curtis became the first member of his family to graduate university, where he received the U SPORTS and OUA Russ Jackson Awards in 2016 as "the player who best exemplified the attributes of academic achievement, football skill, and citizenship."
Determined to invest in the lives of young people who are growing up in vulnerable communities as he did, Curtis went on to complete his teaching degree. In the summer of 2017, he embarked on Ride for Promise, a journey of over three thousand kilometres from Vancouver to Halifax, to raise awareness about the challenges and injustices faced by children living in government housing. By cycling for change, Curtis raised over $100,000 for Urban Promise, an organization committed to supporting youth leaders like himself who grew up in Toronto Community Housing and have the potential to restore their communities.
Learn more about Curtis and his initiatives at
curtiscarmichael.ca.
