What’s more, Kubet’s family had deep roots in Tillsonburg. Hermother was born and raised in the community. Her grandfather, Jack Weston, was the town’s land surveyor. Her great grandfather, Dr. R.E. Weston, was a former mayor and school trustee. His father, J.E. Weston, was part- owner of Weston Stoves, and operator of a produce market on Broadway. All were active volunteers and contributors to community life. And yet none of these facts seemed able to keep Kubet from encountering the implicit racial biases of the era. As a kindergarten student at Rolph Street Public School, for example, she was sent to
a classroom for children with physical and developmental delays. When her mother asked the school why she was there, she was told Kubet had a speech impediment. “She doesn’t have a speech impediment she has an accent!” Louise countered firmly.
When the school suggested Kubet’s standardized test scores were also low, Louise asked to see the test. It didn’t take long to diagnose the problem. In Nigeria, Kubet learned British vocabulary and vernacular. Trash went in a bin, and luggage in a boot, for example. “The test asked questions about books I’d never heard, and used language I wasn’t familiar with,” Kubet explains. In short, it wasn’t a fair test. When a more culturally appropriate assessment was done, Kubet promptly skipped a grade. “I was fortunate to have a mother who advocated for me,” she says. “Without her intervention, my education could have been different right from the get-go.” Kubet was also fortunate to be a gifted athlete. “Kids can be harsh with their words but I found being good at sports was a nice way to overcome those challenges,” she says. As a little girl on the playground, Kubet found power in winning contests to see who could jump the farthest, and run the fastest. “It was nice to be able to stand out for something positive rather than things I had no control over,” she says. Kubet gained even more confidence when she joined the Tillsonburg Legion Track and Field Club. Her natural athletic ability mixed with the club’s high-quality coaching proved to be a powerful combination. She spent countless hours training at
(Above) The Weston family produce market and store located at 128 Broadway.
(Top) Kubet Weston with her mother Louise in Nigeria.
(Right) Louise Weston and husband Stan Umoessien in 1971 on their wedding day at the University of Toronto.
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