The York Catholic District School Board and The Council for Exceptional Children, York Region Chapter #543, would like to acknowledge and congratulate all student and adult recipients of the 2025 Yes I Can! Awards.
The annual Yes I Can! Awards took place on Thursday, May 22nd at Cardinal Carter CHS. It was a spectacular night, celebrating the amazing students, educators, parents and community partners of YCDSB and YRDSB.
Exceptional students are recognized for their accomplishments and significant achievements in the categories of School & Community, Academics, Arts, Self-Advocacy, Technology and Transition. YCDSB and the Student Services Department wish to congratulate all winning students and thank you for the contributions you’ve made to your school, home and community (see list below). We are so proud of your hard work and effort. Well done!
The Council for Exceptional Children also recognizes staff, parents and community members who have given outstanding service to the Catholic Education Centre (CEC) or who have contributed directly to the support and well-being of exceptional children and youth.
YCDSB and the Student Services Department would like to congratulate the following winners, in their respective categories, for their outstanding work and commitment to supporting our exceptional students:
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Sara Forgot and Ashley Ferguson (Town of Georgina): Multi-Use Recreation Complex: Business Award Winners
“Their dedication to creating a welcoming and supportive environment for individuals of all abilities truly sets them apart as champions of community partnership and inclusivity.”
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Temitope Olanrewaju (Sacred Heart CHS): Parent of the Year Winner
“Mrs. Olanrewaju works hard to navigate a difficult system to ensure that her son and others like him are provided with appropriate opportunities and funding. It is truly a joy to see the way that Temi’s love for her son fuels her continued efforts “
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Jessica Halls (Corpus Christi CES): Paraprofessional of the Year Winner
“As a trained deaf-blind intervenor, Jessica brings a wealth of knowledge, particularly Vision which includes braille and UEB, to her work every day. She is deeply committed to learning, eagerly taking courses to expand her expertise and continually improve her practice.”
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Ginnette Ferrigni (St. Joseph the Worker): Teacher of the Year Winner.
“Mrs. Ferrigni has used many skills to create a wonderful program to bring out the best in her students. She collaborates with the education workers, teaching staff, and Administration. She provides her students with meaningful opportunities in the classroom, school, and community. “
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Letizia Cappello (Intensive Response Team Consultant): Leader in Education Winner.
“Her empathy, teamwork and leadership within the ASD/Intensive response team has been integral in the successes of the many students she has supported.”
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Linda Lausic (Coordinator of Special Programs, Secondary): President’s Award Winner.
“In each of her roles, Linda has championed inclusive practices and pushed for meaningful change. A consummate professional and creative thinker, Linda continuously finds innovative solutions to the evolving challenges of special education.”
Lastly, the council would like to acknowledge and congratulate Oliver Guedes. After reading his amazing nomination and voting, Oliver has been selected to be put forth for provincial recognition for his achievements in Technology.
The excerpt below highlights his great use of technology:
“Oliver is a highly proficient user of technology, incorporating it into his daily routine to access and engage with the curriculum. He actively advocates for the devices and tools that best suit his needs, ensuring that he has the necessary resources to maximize his learning potential. His toolkit includes a laptop computer, iPad Pro, CCTV (near/distance viewer), and a range of specialized programs that support his academic activities. His strong sense of advocacy is evident when he faces any issues with his technology. Oliver not only addresses the problems but is also eager to be part of the discussion and learn how to resolve them, demonstrating his commitment to his own success.”
The provincial Yes I Can Awards will take place in November/December 2025.
We wish the best of luck to Oliver and all of our provincial candidates.
Once again, thank you and congratulations to all the York Chapter 543 award recipients, as well as student performers and contributors, committee members, and guests.
The York Region Yes, I Can Awards will return in Spring 2026.
Congratulations 2025 Winners:
Academics:
Andrew, Dave, Elijah, Joshua, Julian, Sofia
Arts:
Domenico, Angela, Steve, Nicholas, Michael, Matthew, Massimo, John, Matteo, Xian, Olivia
School & Community:
Massimo, Zoe, Neomi, Lily, Luca, Paul, Jacky, Jordan, Luca, Christina, Samuel, Miles, Annabella, Adrian, Luca
Self-Advocacy:
Julian, Amelia, Iris, Gabrielle
Technology:
Paul, Alexander, Matthew, Oliver, Vincent, Victor, Stefanie
Transition:
Kayla, Carmen, Tolu, Julian, Enzo, Joseph, Thurgkeesh, Kaitlyn, Alexia, Caua, Winson, Makayla, Isabella, Adrian