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THREAD: Fun day with Peel Regional Police Const. Bancroft Wright.
He returned to Humber (radio grad from way back when) as a guest speaker in our newsroom last fall and was emotional about being on campus again.
He returned to Humber (radio grad from way back when) as a guest speaker in our newsroom last fall and was emotional about being on campus again.
This is a guy who’s 6’7” with a booming voice. Everyone stared as we walked across campus. He’s used to it and was perfectly perfect: open, vulnerable, authentic.
He briefly told graduating students how being Black prevented him from landing a radio job.
He briefly told graduating students how being Black prevented him from landing a radio job.
I was mentally editing him and inserted em dashes as he was talking:
—despite his obvious broadcast pipes—
—despite his obvious broadcast pipes—
*editorializing alert*
If anyone belonged on air, it’s Bancroft.
If anyone belonged on air, it’s Bancroft.
And he found a way: the police radio. Sources say he cracked them up.
Bancroft had jokes for students, too. He had a zinger about being a Jamaican guy with four jobs 
and how he decided to pursue policing in his late 30s.
and how he decided to pursue policing in his late 30s.
The jokes continued. Bancroft joked about how he and media relations partner @OfficerCannon would flip a coin to decide who’d do the scrum on any given day when they had to meet the press.
He stayed on and chatted with students who were excited to see him on CP24 later. He really wanted to make a strong impression on them.
Bancroft was in awe of how diverse Humber’s North campus has become since he was there. He talked about how he was one of a few Black students.
He also couldn’t stop peeking into the radio station.
“You should totally have your own show here,” I said. He laughed.
He also couldn’t stop peeking into the radio station.
“You should totally have your own show here,” I said. He laughed.
Being on campus again stirred up a lot of stuff for Bancroft. I could tell.
He spent time with J-school rookies, too; a complete natural in the classroom.
He spent time with J-school rookies, too; a complete natural in the classroom.
Bancroft memorized students’ names as I introduced them around ‘the surfboard’ below and even recalled them a few months later when we spoke.
It was the first (and only) time I’ve had a guest speaker where students didn’t ask for a break. Bancroft was so magnetic. They didn’t want him to leave.
Not bad for a Jane & Finch kid. Gone but never forgotten.
Rest easy, B.
-30-
Rest easy, B.
-30-
Background here: https://twitter.com/peelpolice/status/1337975022586093570
