Graduation Day: Congratulations to the Class of 2026

The St. Michael’s College School (SMCS) Class of 2026 was honoured and celebrated on June 25, 2026, with a formal graduation Mass and exercises.

The morning began with the traditional Mass at neighbouring Holy Rosary Church, celebrated by Fr. Leung, CSB, Fr. May, CSB, and Deacon David Fischer. Following Mass, students gathered for the annual class photo before sitting down with faculty and staff for lunch.

In the afternoon, graduates assembled in the gym for the formal graduation exercises. The graduation keynote was delivered by Rudyard Griffiths, who is Chair of Munk Debates, Publisher of The Hub, and Senior Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs.

“Giving yourself over to something larger than yourself is what strengthens your character and grows relationships that matter—and you won’t do any of this alone. The friendships, the lessons, the personal growth that come through continuing service will fortify you for a lifetime,” says Griffiths. “You have a lifetime to take risks, to serve, to grow with and through your friends.”

Following the keynote, graduate diplomas were conferred. The Class was then addressed by one of its own, valedictorian Leos Kapasouris, who was thankful for his time at SMCS. He spoke about the strength of the SMCS brotherhood, and he challenged his classmates to step forward with courage.

“We all only have one life, one chance, one moment to be something great. So, do what you’re passionate about—take chances and don’t be afraid to fail, be different, be unique, and never try to be someone you’re not,” says Kapasouris. “Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Don’t be afraid to fail big and don’t be afraid to dream big.

“God has given every single one of us a talent, a passion, a reason to keep moving forward. So, you should never be afraid to act because it’s better to take action and fail than simply sit back and wonder what could have happened if you just put in a little more effort. To St. Mike’s, thank you for teaching me what it means to be a man and for the best four years of my life. May God bless the St. Mike’s graduating class of 2026.”

Following the graduation exercises, the Class of 2026 made its way from the gymnasium to the front lawn for a long-standing SMCS tradition: walking through the Bathurst Street Students’ Arch for the very first time. Students don’t pass through the arch until this moment, so for many graduates, it’s one of the most meaningful steps of the day.

On behalf of the entire St. Michael’s College School community, congratulations to our newest alumni, the Class of 2026. We wish them well as they move forward in the next chapter of their academic journey.

Congratulations to our major award winners:

Basilian Sponsored Scholarships

FR. MATTHEW MULCAHY, CSB SCHOLARSHIP ($5,000) – highest academic average in the graduating year (top six subjects).
Ronan Zhong

ALBERT BUTLER, CSB SCHOLARSHIP ($3,000) – second highest academic average in the graduating year.
Jacob DaCambra

JOSEPH PENNY, CSB SCHOLARSHIP ($2,000) – third highest academic average in the graduating year.
Lucas Connop – William Garrett – Frederic Ho

Proficiency Awards

BRIAN DUNN MEMORIAL AWARD FOR GENERAL PROFICIENCY ($500) – graduate with the highest academic average in his graduating year.
William Garrett – Frederic Ho

MEDAL OF THE GOVERNOR GENERAL OF CANADA – graduate with the highest standing in the graduating class (average of all Grade 11 and 12 courses)
Ronan Zhong

SPIRITUS TROPHY ($5,000) – the graduate who best embodies the spirit of St. Michael’s College School.
Matthew Castellarin

Check out our photo gallery: