The Haitian Student Committee at La Cité Aims to Elevate Haiti’s Image in Canada

At Ontario’s La Cité College, the Haitian Student Committee (CEHC) has welcomed a new leadership team, chosen based on merit and renewed annually.

Their mission? To effectively represent Haitian students, promote Haitian culture and identity, and strengthen Haiti’s reputation within Canada’s multicultural environment.

This year’s executive committee includes five members: Fenley Cius as President, Roodolph Louis Jean as Vice-President, Bryan Ruben as Spokesperson, and Jean-François Maherline as Secretary. Guided by the committee’s founders, Wendy Jacques—a founder and the coordinator of the seniors’ committee—helped oversee the transition to the new team, who are already working with a busy agenda.

This new leadership is committed to celebrating key dates to bring visibility to Haiti abroad. On October 28, 2024, for International Creole Language Day, the committee plans a day of Creole music at the campus bar, inviting students from all backgrounds to join a quiz on Haiti’s history, with prizes for the winners.

Another highlight will be November 14, a commemoration of the Battle of Vertières, featuring guest artists BIC, Tanbou Lakay, and Rèn Dara in a “Musical Gathering” to honor Haiti’s resilience amid current national challenges.

The committee believes that showcasing Haiti in such contexts can counter negative perceptions often associated with the Haitian diaspora.

Fenley Cius, the new president of the Haitian Student Committee, is a political activist, journalist, and former diplomacy student at Haiti’s Center for Diplomatic and International Studies (CEDI-Haiti).

Driven by a profound commitment to his country, he advocates for showcasing Haiti’s rich culture and history, convinced that such efforts help sustain hope and pride for a people with an enduring legacy.

Wallace Elie