SHSM Graduate and Award Winner – Michael Chine

By Samantha Beattie
The Hamilton Spectator

At 6:15 a.m. every Monday through Friday Michael Chine can be found sitting on a bench in Gage Park enjoying the quiet, feeling the rising sun’s glow and watching the squirrels, birds and trees.

By 7 a.m. he has begun work tending the park’s gardens and greenhouses, and putting his horticultural knowledge to good use.

Michael graduated June 25 from Saltfleet Secondary’s Horticulture Technician program with a Specialist High Skill Major award and bursary. He also was the only student in his graduating class to receive the Horticulture Technician subject award and the Partnerships for Access to Higher Education scholarship.

“I love nature and plants and birds,” said Michael, who was diagnosed with autism as a young child. “Being in the horticulture program made me happy.”

What’s more remarkable about Michael’s story is that 20 years ago, he was born 12 weeks premature in the back of a taxi. He was deprived of oxygen for 14 minutes and suffered bleeding in his brain.

“Some of our friends and family asked us why we’d ever think of adopting him,” said Deb Chine, a Canadian Cancer Society volunteer. “Many people said he would have to be institutionalized, or would cost us too much money.”

She and her husband Kraft Chine, an operations manager at Canada Post, applied to adopt a child in early 1994. Their agency told them about Michael a few weeks after his Nov. 14 birth and they brought him home in mid-January.

Michael hit all the milestones, just on his own time. Deb and Kraft, who were not discouraged, eagerly watched him sit at nine months, walk at 2 and begin communicating at 5.

That’s when the couple adopted another boy. Kevin, now 15, was born with fetal alcohol syndrome. The brothers quickly bonded, but for Michael school always loomed in the background, difficult and frustrating.

It wasn’t until he was a student at Mountain Secondary and started a co-op placement in the greenhouses at Gage Park that Michael flourished.

“Michael is a breath of fresh air and reminds me how amazing and beautiful plants can be,” said Neil Schofield, the city’s horticulture supervisor.

When the family heard about Saltfleet’s program, they felt it was the right fit for Michael. He switched high schools halfway through Grade 11 to get into it.

“Throughout his time here Michael has become more confident, especially when talking about plants and horticulture,” said Mae Louie, assistant head of student services at Saltfleet. “He’s also opened up a lot and can talk to people more easily.”

In September, Michael will attend Mohawk College for one year to finish the program after earning a year’s worth of advance credits at Saltfleet. To complete the program, he’ll need to secure an apprenticeship, which he hopes will be at a park in Hamilton.

https://www.hwdsb.on.ca/blog/michael-chine-beats-the-odds-and-graduates-high-school-with-awards-scholarship/

Michael Chine beats the odds and graduates high school with awards, scholarship