On Thursday, September 18, the Senior & Middle School celebrated student leadership at the 97th Installation Ceremony. The event formally welcomed the new cohort of student leaders and set an inspiring tone for the 2025–26 academic year.

The ceremony opened with an address from Principal Grace McCallum, who spoke passionately about the collective journey ahead, encouraging every student to celebrate the start of their personal leadership path. She expressed her hope that the year would be filled with meaningful and connected experiences within the Branksome community.

Following Principal McCallum’s remarks, the formal installation took place for all Prefects, Senior & Middle School Clan Heads and Representatives, and Club Heads. A special moment of recognition occurred when alum Lauren BOLGER’25 was honoured with the prestigious Governor General's Award. Due to Lauren being away at university, her award was accepted by her father, who connected with Lauren over a live FaceTime call. It was a humorous and heartfelt moment as the community reconnected with Lauren through the screen.

A highlight of the afternoon was the address delivered by Head Prefect Emmi. She centred her message on the concept of 'courage over comfort,' urging every student to step into their own leadership potential. Emmi shared her “3, 2, 1 Go!” strategy for confronting challenging times in her life at school and beyond. She explained that when faced with something nerve-wracking, whether it is speaking up in class or initiating a new project, she takes a moment to take a breath, count down from three and then immediately launches into action before doubt can take hold. As she put it, "We must be willing to be uncomfortable. We must choose courage over comfort every time."

Emmi highlighted that true leadership is not about avoiding mistakes but about showing up fully for one's community, even when it feels challenging. She encouraged her peers to treat failures not as setbacks but as essential points on the path to success, stating, "Failure is not the opposite of success, it is a stepping stone to it." Emmi concluded her inspiring message by stressing that leadership is a shared responsibility, supported by an interconnected web of students, faculty and staff, and called on all student leaders to prioritize inclusivity.

The event was a memorable reminder of Branksome Hall's commitment to fostering principled and courageous young women ready to lead. Following Emmi’s speech, the Ceremony of the Flags took place, symbolizing the transition of leadership between Branksome Hall alums and the new student leaders. In this ceremony, five flags representing the school and its values are transferred from alums to current student leaders. The celebration concluded with the singing of Keep Well the Road. 

As Emmi so eloquently put it, we are eager to see the community say, “3, 2, 1, Go!” and take on the school year ahead with courage, conviction and a unified heart.