Mr. Speaker, recently, Scarborough faced the loss of a beloved educator and community leader. The news of Jay Williams' death at the age of 40 is a tragic loss for the community.
Jay Williams was an educator with the Toronto District School Board, most recently working with the TDSB's Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement to develop strategies to dismantle anti-Black racism in schools. He grew up in the Malvern area and will be remembered as a beloved teacher at several middle schools across Scarborough. As a teacher, he focused on making the classroom experience more culturally relevant to Black students. He started clubs, coached sports and served as a role model to thousands of teenagers in Scarborough.
My condolences go out to Jay's family, including his mother, Senator Paulette Senior, and his father, Ron Williams. He will truly be missed.