Chen has made an impact at Harbord Collegiate

By Ammara Khan

In a world where community connections can feel fleeting, 18-year-old Sean Chen proves that one passionate and dedicated individual can make strong and lasting impacts. Prior to starting his first year at Toronto Metropolitan University in business management, Chen’s efforts were recognized and rewarded with the Toronto Police Service 14 Division’s 2024 Community Safety Scholarship. The scholarship, established in 2011, awards $4000 to individuals 25 and under who reside or attend school in the 14 division. 

According to Brian Burchell, Community Safety Scholarship coordinator (and publisher of the Gleaner), the scholarship “recognizes youth who have made their communities safer and helps them realize their potential with financial support for post-secondary education.”

Chen began making an impact in the community during his time at Harbord Collegiate Institute. “To be honest,” said Burchell, “the worlds he has touched in a brief span of three years are too numerous to list.”

To list a few, Chen was a member of the RCMP’s National Youth Advisory, a captain with the Reel Asian International Film Festival, a member of Toronto’s Youth Cabinet Urban Health Working Group, a member of his school’s Caring & Safe Schools committee, and the president of his Student Activity Council. He also started a club, the Harbord Response Team.

Chen often thinks about how he can give back to his community. He is unsure what his driving factor is. “It’s hard to say where it comes from when you have passion,” he said.

Chen felt that winning the scholarship was “definitely affirming.” He said, “it points to a greater cause that I’m trying to achieve.” 

“I’m not sure what the cause is, to be honest,” he continued, “but it is affirming in the sense that it shows you’re going in the right direction.” 

One of his many notable feats is the Toronto Police vs Student Dodgeball game, which hosted three games in a span of four years. It is a community relations event that Chen organized to bring students and 14 division police officers together. 

This is one of the ways that Chen helps encourage a safer community—through building lasting connections.

“I think community safety is an ongoing initiative that requires collaboration from both the community, especially the youth,” said Chen. “We have to realize that community safety is a shared responsibility. It’s not just the police.”

“I first met him through an email when he wanted to do dodgeball,” said Staff Sergeant Israel Bernardo, police officer and member of the scholarship adjudication committee, “and I was confusing the [school] principal for him. The email was so professional,” expressed Bernardo. They set up the date for the event, and Bernardo went on thinking Chen was a staff member. “We go down there, and he’s just a kid!” 

“He’s very mature, centred, and deliberate in conversation,” said Bernardo. “He can roll with the punches. He’s good in a room. He’s sharp.”

Bernardo says that Chen’s initiatives benefit community safety because they benefit many members of the youth. “Giving your time is the most valuable thing you can do,” he said. “Giving your time for the benefit of others.”

Bernardo says that fostering a relationship between the police and the community also creates a safer environment. Cooperation between the community and police could lead to less violence. 

Bernardo hopes this opportunity can give the youth “hope.” He hopes it “takes some of the burden away.” He wants it to act as one less excuse to hold the youth back from achieving their goals. 

“This is available,” said Bernardo about the scholarship, “and it’s attainable.”

“I’m hoping that we can get more community partners,” said Bernardo, “to continue to contribute.” Bernardo hopes that the scholarship can expand to provide opportunities to more members of the youth in the community. 

“It’s supporting your community because some of the things that Sean’s doing is impacting dozens of students,” said Bernardo. 

“Safer communities,” said Burchell, “are our mutual goal.”

READ MORE:

• NEWS: Police Safety Scholarship winner (August 2020)
• CHATTER: Police Scholarship Awarded (Oct. 2019)
• NEWS: Students win safety scholarships (July 2014)