Student Champions Cause with Pop Can Tab Drive
Since the summer after Grade 9, Brianna Torrealba ’26 has been volunteering weekly at Mackenzie Health Hospital in Richmond Hill. Her dedication has taken her through various departments, from assisting patients in the Medical Imaging Unit—prepping for MRIs, ultrasounds, and nuclear medicine appointments—to supporting laboratory operations, processing requisitions, and restocking essential supplies.
It was at Mackenzie Health that Brianna first learned about the Robert Hampson Tabs for Kids Fund, a charitable initiative in partnership with Easter Seals Ontario. The fund collects aluminum pop can tabs to raise money for accessibility devices for children, including wheelchairs. The concept is simple yet impactful: remove the tab from your drink (or soup, pet food, or tuna can), collect it, and contribute to a cause that changes lives. Learn more at pop tabs for wheelchairs.ca.
This year, as Co-coordinator of the Social Justice Club, Brianna introduced the idea of a Pop Can Tab Challenge to Mr. Downer and her peers. The initiative quickly gained momentum in a Senior School Assembly, inspiring students to participate in the collection effort. To sweeten the deal, Mr. Viotto promised an extra dress-down day if students could fill the tab collection container by a specific date—a fun incentive for a meaningful cause.
Last week, Brianna personally delivered the filled container to a designated drop-off depot in Toronto before returning it to the Senior School Office, where it remains ready for future contributions. Her hope is that students and staff will continue collecting tabs throughout the summer and into the next school year.
With Brianna stepping into her new role as Vice President of the Student Council in September, we’re excited to see what impactful initiatives she leads next. Her passion for service and commitment to community are truly inspiring!
Land Acknowledgment
The Country Day School wishes to recognize and acknowledge the land on which the school operates. Our nearest Indigenous Nations are now the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Chippewas of Georgina Island. The Dish with One Spoon Wampum covenant is often cited as an example of the shared responsibility for caring for these lands among the Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples who would call these their traditional territories. CDS respects the relationship with these lands and recognizes that our connection to this land can be strengthened by our continued relationship with all First Nations, by acknowledging our shared responsibility to respect and care for the land and waters for future generations.
School Information
Junior, Middle and Senior Schools
13415 Dufferin Street, King, Ontario L7B 1K5
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
13415 Dufferin Street, King, Ontario L7B 1K5
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
