Valerie Jerome facts for kids
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||
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| Born | 28 April 1944 Saint Boniface, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
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| Sport | Sprinting | |||||||||||||
| Event(s) | 100 metres | |||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Valerie Jerome (born 28 April 1944) is a Canadian athlete, educator, and activist. She was a talented sprinter in track and field. Valerie competed for Canada in the 100-metre race at the 1960 Summer Olympics. She also won a bronze medal in the 4 × 100 metres relay at the 1959 Pan American Games.
Valerie Jerome is the only Canadian athlete to compete in five different track and field events at the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, or Pan American Games. She comes from a family of athletes. Her brother is the famous sprinter Harry Jerome, and her grandfather is John "Army" Howard.
Valerie's Early Life
Valerie Jerome was born in Saint Boniface, Winnipeg, on 28 April 1944. She was the third child of Harry Vincent Jerome and Elsie Jerome. Her father worked for the Canadian National Railways.
A Family of Athletes
Valerie has two brothers, Harry Jerome and Barton Jerome, and a sister, Carolyn Jerome. Her grandfather, John Howard, was also an Olympian. He represented Canada at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics. John Howard was the first Black Canadian to run in the 100-metre and 200-metre events at the Olympic Games.
Moving to the West Coast
After a big flood in Winnipeg in 1950, Valerie's family moved to North Vancouver. This move was hard for the family because they faced racism. Some people in the community did not want them to move into their new house. Luckily, the family was able to move in.
In September 1951, on their first day of school at Ridgeway Elementary, the Jerome children faced a difficult protest. A large group of people threw rocks at them to protest Black students attending the school. Valerie's father, Harry Vincent Jerome, stood up for his children. He went to the school to make sure they could get the education they deserved. After this, the siblings were able to attend the elementary school.
In 1954, the family moved again, closer to their next school, Sutherland Junior Secondary. Here, they also experienced racism.
Valerie's Athletic Journey
Valerie Jerome became famous at just 15 years old. This was after her amazing performance at the 1959 Canadian Championships.
Canadian Championship Success
At the 1959 Canadian Championships, Valerie was the only Black female athlete on the track. She won gold medals in the 60-metre, 80-metre, and 4x100-metre relay races. She also jumped the farthest in the long jump and placed third in the high jump.
Pan American Games
Valerie competed in the 1959 Pan American Games in Chicago, USA. She won a bronze medal in the 4 × 100 m relay. Her teammates were Sally McCallum, Maureen Rever, and Heather Campbell. She also finished seventh in the long jump event.
Olympic Dreams
In 1960, Valerie represented Canada at the Summer Olympics in Rome, Italy. Her brother, Harry, also competed there. Valerie ran in the 4 × 100 m relay and the 100-metre dash.
Staying Involved in Sports
After she stopped competing, Valerie continued to help the sports community. She worked for 35 years as an official for track and field events. She was even the chief judge for long jump and triple jump at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. She also helped officiate at other major events like the Olympics, World Championships, and Commonwealth Games.
Olympic Torchbearer
Valerie had the honor of being a torchbearer for the 2010 Winter Olympics.
After Her Athletic Career
Valerie Jerome has done many important things since her time as an athlete.
Becoming an Educator
Valerie graduated from the University of British Columbia in 1976 with a degree in education. She worked as a teacher for 35 years. She also led a successful effort to create a special program at Dalhousie University to study Black Canadian history.
Helping Young Athletes
Valerie helped start the Jerome Outreach Society. This group hires coaches for schools in low-income areas of Vancouver. These coaches teach sports like basketball, track and field, soccer, cross country running, and ultimate frisbee. The best part is that it costs nothing for the schools or the kids! Since 2007, more than 2000 children have joined these programs. Many of them come from families who might not otherwise afford sports.
Valerie also helps run an athletic club for children in the city. This club is named after her brother, Harry. She also helps with the Harry Jerome International Track Classic, a big track and field event.
Working for Change
Valerie Jerome is also known for her work in politics. She cares a lot about the environment, especially about keeping green spaces and making sure things are sustainable. Between 1985 and 2000, Valerie ran in seven elections for the Green Party. She ran at the federal (country-wide), provincial (state/province), and municipal (city) levels. Her son, Stuart Parker, was even the leader of the Green Party of British Columbia from 1993 to 2000.
Community Contributions
Valerie has volunteered for many years with the Vancouver Writers Festival. She has also helped the BC Cancer Agency raise money. Currently, she is on the board of directors for the Vancouver Junior Professional Division Society.
