Congratulations Cast & Crew of Ahead by a Century!

This past week, our student actors and musicians took the stage by storm in four spectacular, sold-out performances of Ahead by a Century, a theatrical experience inspired by the words and music of Gord Downie and The Tragically Hip. The show was the world premiere of an original CDS production, created and written entirely by the cast and directing faculty – a stunning achievement.

The success and reach of this play exceeded everyone’s expectations. News of this production spread like nothing our school has witnessed before. Our promotional video reached people we never dreamed it would, with audience members attending from as far east as Kingston, west as Waterloo and south as Stoney Creek and Pittsburgh. Gord Downie’s brother, Mike Downie, was among them.

Gord Downie’s brother, Mike Downie, was among them. Mike, a film maker, attended the final dress rehearsal on Thursday, as well as Opening Night. He brought a camera crew with him to film and interview our students about their journey working on this project for a documentary he’s creating on projects inspired by the Secret Path album and graphic novel and steps toward reconciliation.
 
Mike also brought along his friend Redfeather, a residential school survivor, who came to watch our students perform some of the Chanie Wenjack scenes just for him following the final dress rehearsal. Redfeather was so impressed with what he saw that he returned with his partner to watch the Saturday evening show. When Mr. Garbe introduced him at the conclusion of the performance, the audience rose to their feet to give Redfeather a standing ovation. He spoke to the crowd and urged that “this shouldn’t stop here, it should be produced in other schools.” He (and all of us) hope that this project will continue to educate students throughout Ontario and Canada about this painful part of our history.
 
This production was a potent reminder of the power of the arts to make a difference in our world and how the theatre can open our hearts and minds to voices that had been silenced by cruelty and indifference.
 
The current generation is not responsible for creating the destructive system of residential schools, but if we remain idle and uninformed, we become complicit in its legacy. We are so proud that the cast and crew of this production, through their creation of this piece of theatre, declared its determination to not remain silent and instead, to actively set a course to reconciliation and healing.
 
To Gord and The Hip – thank you for your music and inspiration.
 
To Chanie and our First Nations brothers and sisters – we love you. We see you. You’re not invisible to us.
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Land Acknowledgment

CDS wishes to recognize and acknowledge the land on which the school operates. For thousands of years, these have been the traditional lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. We also recognize the traditional territory of the Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabe and the Haudenosaunee peoples who also shared this land.  CDS respects the relationship with these lands and recognizes that our connection can be strengthened by our continued relationship with all First Nations, by acknowledging our shared responsibility to respect and care for these lands and waters for future generations.

School Information

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.