Noah Erskine wants to represent Simcoe County on the other side of the world where he will be pursuing a PhD in Australia.
The 25-year-old is well known in the Orillia community through his time as a volunteer with the Mariposa Wrestling Club and Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital where he directed patients and handled paperwork duties.
“I like helping and getting to know the different kinds of people in Orillia,” he said. “Engaging with Orillians is really nice and I like to give back to this community."
The ÈSC Nouvelle-Alliance graduate spent his youth at Samuel-De-Champlain Elementary School learning in French.
“My mother is French,” Erskine explained. “It was important for me to keep learning the language because Canada is bilingual. It was a big point of emphasis from my parents."
The Toronto native says being bilingual opens up the door of opportunity to meet different people and see different perspectives.
“French culture is very different than English culture,” Erskine said. “There are also different types of French culture and it’s a cool way to connect people.”
Being bilingual has helped Erskine become a better speaker and writer which has helped him with his studies. Erskine recently finished his master's in sensorimotor and behavioural neuroscience. He studied ADHD and developmental co-ordination disorder in children at McMaster University.
Now, Erskine is preparing to move to Brisbane, Australia, where he will work toward earning his PhD in child health and neuroscience at the University of Queensland.
“I enjoy working with kids and I know there is a lack of males in that field,” he said. “I’m just trying to be a good role model. I want to be a good Black role model because there isn’t enough representation in education.”
Erskine decided on Australia to follow in the footsteps of one of his professors who did his research overseas. Erskine aims to become a good teacher where he can educate people about motor development and child development.
“I will need to persevere,” he said. “I’ve done six years of university already and I have a couple more to go. I just need to maintain focus on the big picture and be kind to people.”
Erskine says as a minority in Canada, he has experienced racism along his journey.
“Being in Orillia I have also felt cottage country hospitality and kindness,” he said. “Sometimes there are ignorant things that get said, but if you talk to them there is usually a certain level of understanding that comes from Orillians which is really nice.”
There have been growing pains for Erskine in Orillia, however, he feels lucky to be here today.
“I feel welcomed here,” he said. “I’ve lived down south in Hamilton and there is a bit of a culture shock there. People can be cold and callous, but here people say hi to you and give you that warmth.”
Erskine encourages young people of colour who face racism and adversity to always feel their emotions, but then take a step back, and try to extend empathy.
“A lot of times it comes from a place of ignorance,” he said of racism. “When we are able to try and understand things from their perspective, then we are able to educate people.”
With February being Black History Month, Erskine says he is celebrating and educating, but maybe in a different way than some.
“A lot of times the media shows films specifically targeted at Black people that have themes of Black trauma,” he said. “I think there is more to being Black than the trauma aspect and slavery. I’m not trying to minimize that at all, but there are a lot of things to celebrate.”
Erskine likes to celebrate the contributions to the world of Black Canadians. He also likes to celebrate the Caribbean culture that his father is from.
“As much as I’m proud to be Black, I’m also proud to have grown up here,” he said. “I’m proud to represent Orillia and I hope to put our city on the map when I’m in Australia.”
