Harry Jerome biopic to be shown in Canadian high schools

A documentary on the life of Harry Jerome will be screened in 17 high schools across the country during February as part of Black History Month.

During his time at the top, Jerome won the Commonwealth and Pan American Games in 1966 and 1967, respectively. He also finished with a bronze at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo. He was the first man to ever run a 10-second-flat 100m race.

The screenings will be put on by Reel Canada, an organization that helps put together important film screenings at high schools in a film festival style format.

The film, Mighty Jerome, is a biopic about the life of Harry Jerome, who during the mid-1960’s was the top sprinter in the world. He set multiple world records for the 100m and 100 yards. The documentary was directed by Charles Officer and released in 2010 with favourable reviews.

Officer will do a Q-and-A with the audience after each screening.

Jerome is still an iconic figure in Canadian sport. One of Canada’s most popular track and field events in Vancouver is named after him and there is a bronze statue of him in the city’s Stanley Park. He was a native of Vancouver.