The Toronto District School Board has named the gymnasium at C.W. Jefferys Collegiate Institute after Jeremiah Perry. The 15-year-old C.W. Jefferys CI student passed away last year during a field trip to Algonquin Park.

Jeremiah’s family, together with students and staff gathered at the school today for the unveiling of a memorial plaque that has been installed in the main lobby, along with a commemorative sign over the gym entrance.

The TDSB recently resumed its internal investigation into the circumstances surrounding Jeremiah’s tragic passing. The TDSB investigation had been suspended at the request of the Ontario Provincial Police while they conducted their criminal investigation, which is ongoing.

In addition to the findings announced in August 2017, the TDSB investigation has further determined that neither Jeremiah, his parents, nor school administrators were aware of or advised by the teacher in charge that Jeremiah had not passed a swim test and did not meet the swimming requirements for the trip. At the time of his death, it appears that Jeremiah accidently slipped into deep water when standing in shallow water.

Since this tragedy, the TDSB has taken action to further strengthen its high care excursion procedures. Outdoor education remains an important aspect of student learning and the TDSB is committed to ensuring student safety and well-being.

“This is an important step to ensure Jeremiah’s memory lives on at the school in the years ahead. His tragic passing led directly to the strengthening of TDSB safety requirements for all water-related field trips so that something like this can never happen again.”

- John Malloy, Director, TDSB