On May 21, Grade 5 and 6 students from St. David and Holy Trinity Catholic Schools came together at Terry Fox Field to play in a series of friendly baseball games, celebrating their success in the 2025 Jays Care Affiliate School Program. This initiative, led by the charitable arm of the Toronto Blue Jays, provides select schools with training, equipment, and access to inclusive baseball programming.

Thanks to the leadership of Principal Colin Lapalme and Teacher Louis Mailloux, both schools successfully applied for the program at the start of the school year — and everything that’s happened since has been a home run. Through their partnership with Jays Care, more than 100 students from St. David’s and Holy Trinity learned how to play baseball and received top-quality equipment and resources, including baseball gloves, balls, tees, bats, indoor bases, pylons, and more. This spring, both schools also delivered the RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) Program—a national program by Jays Care that focuses on making baseball more inclusive and accessible. The program, which aims to eliminate barriers so that every child has the opportunity to participate in sports, provides support from trained coaches, uniforms, and league play, enabling students to develop new skills, build friendships, and cultivate a love of the game in a safe and welcoming environment.

The end-of-year gathering on May 21 served as a happy finale to a season of teamwork, skill-building, and inclusive play—leaving a lasting impact on both school communities.

“We are very proud of the students and staff at St. David and Holy Trinity for their dedication and teamwork,” said Principal Colin Lapalme. “There is no doubt about it that participation in the Jays Care Affiliate School Program and RBI Program has had a meaningful impact on students’ lives—both on and off the field. Staff have seen an increase in engagement, with many students asking their families for gloves and continuing to play baseball with friends outside of school.”

“The program provided a great opportunity for all types of students to participate, regardless of previous experience,” said Louis Mailloux, Teacher at St. David Catholic Elementary School. “We have seen students take risks, build friendships, and fall in love with the game. Thank you to Jays Care Foundation for making this possible. We look forward to taking part in more baseball programs in the years to come.”

With their season wrapping up just as the MLB season begins, the Blue Jays may have gained a few new fans this year. As a school board that aspires to excellence, we are proud to celebrate the success of St. David and Holy Trinity’s budding baseball athletes as they stepped up to the plate and discovered their passion for the game.