N.S. boy, 6, who just joined Mensa started multiplying as a toddler
A six-year-old boy from Bedford, N.S., has gained membership into one of the world's most exclusive clubs.
Elijah Kodzo Motey is one of 50 Nova Scotians who've been accepted into Mensa International, a high-IQ society for people who score in the top two per cent of standardized intelligence tests.
"We are so proud, we're so excited," said his mother, Mercy Mutale Motey, in an interview. "I think we are still in shock in some ways."
Elijah is the youngest of three children in his family. His parents said they started seeing clues of his intelligence early on. At the age of two, he would spell complicated words on the fridge with magnets. He taught himself to read and write as a toddler.
At daycare, he would lead storytime — reading to his fellow young classmates. Math came naturally, too.
"He would be doing three times tables — three, six, nine and 12. And he was like two years old," his mother said. "It was just remarkable to be able to watch."
Mensa membership shoo-in
The Moteys wanted to make sure they could provide Elijah with the resources and support he'd need as a gifted child, so they turned to Mensa.
Since the non-profit organization only tests people who are 14 and older, Elijah's parents had him tested by a psychologist. Those results were sent to Atlantic Mensa, a chapter for members from Canada's East Coast.
Elijah's father, Delali Motey, said he wasn't surprised that Elijah was accepted into the society.
"Knowing how he was with math and his intelligence level, we were confident," he said.
Favourite subjects include math, gym and reading
Elijah attends an elementary school that falls under the province's French school board, Conseil scolaire acadien provincial. His parents have a French language background and they try to speak at least two languages with their children at home.
What does Elijah like most about school?
"Math for solving questions," he said. "Gym for running around and the library for reading."
At school, he added, "I can be smart and intelligent."
Mensa 'not a bunch of snobs'
Barry Schmidel, the Atlantic regional representative on the board of Mensa Canada, said the organization started as a way to provide a community for people "who are highly intelligent."
"I have a peer group now that I wouldn't have had before if I wasn't a member," he said. "I know people who may disagree with me politically or on social issues or whatever, but who I can have an intelligent conversation with."
"We're not a bunch of snobs," he added.
Elijah's mom said she believes it's important for parents to advocate for their children, no matter their skill level. She's in regular contact with the school's principal and vice-principal to make sure Elijah is challenged correctly.
As for the future, she said it's too early to say what lies ahead for her son.
"We really want him to explore what he loves and enjoys," she said. "He is so enthusiastic about the things that he enjoys and because of his skills he's able to pick up almost anything."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
22 minutes ago
- CTV News
Montrealers fed up as city rips up new asphalt for second round of construction
Residents say tearing up fresh asphalt for more construction shows poor planning, but the city says it's part of finishing the bike and bus lanes. Some Montrealers living near Henri-Bourassa Boulevard say they're frustrated after fresh asphalt laid down last summer was torn up for more roadwork this spring—construction they feel never seems to end. Christina Iacono, whose daughter's daycare is located right by the Henri-Bourassa Boulevard and Saint-Denis Street intersection, says she's fed up. 'Just trying to get to work… dropping off my daughter has become a nightmare,' Iacono said. 'I don't think digging up the street for a bike lane twice in one year is an efficient way to work.' The street is a major artery with businesses and homes nearby. Residents say it's a challenge to get around, but the City of Montreal says it's adding lanes for bikes and buses. 'It's going to be more secure for pedestrians, for cyclists, for people moving around with public transit as well,' said city spokesperson Philippe Sabourin. He explained that since work wasn't complete, the city put a thin layer of asphalt down to get through the winter. It's this temporary patch that was ripped up and will be replaced with a thicker, more permanent paving job. 'It's impossible to build with concrete and asphalt during the winter because it's too cold. Those material cannot be dried,' he added. And despite delays, the city will complete the project in a month. However, for Iacano, there are too many unanswered questions, so she has launched a petition calling for a moratorium on the construction. 'It's really anger and frustration at how tax dollars are being spent,' she said.
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
First Nations youth program serves up Bannock, hot dogs in support of wildfire evacuees
The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs hosted a fundraiser to help support wildfire evacuees in Manitoba. The kitchen of a North End leisure centre churned out a bevy of tasty treats Friday to help support Manitoba wildfire evacuees. Eagle's Nest, an Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs job readiness program for First Nations youth, organized the fundraiser. Folks were invited to the Aikins Street Community Health Centre as youth sold Bannock, soup, tacos in a bag, burgers, hot dogs and more. All proceeds go to First Nations families who have been temporarily displaced by wildfires. 'We're just trying to raise some money and help some people out and do what we can,' said Eagle's Nest project coordinator Desiree Martin. According to Friday's fire bulletin, there are 28 active wildfires currently burning out of control. Ten are considered out of control. As of June 5, the Canadian Red Cross has registered about 18,000 evacuees from over 7,100 households. A provincial state of emergency is in effect until June 26.
CBC
3 hours ago
- CBC
Tataskweyak wildfire evacuees in Thompson 'meeting place' hoping to reconnect with family all over
Social Sharing Grace Beardy's youngest child was born in Takaskweyak Cree Nation on May 19, Victoria Day. Ten days later, power in the community was out. The boy was about two weeks old when he became an evacuee. "It was sad, especially going through postpartum and carrying the little one," Beardy said Wednesday. "I was alone out there with him for four days, until my sister came." Tataskweyak, also known as Split Lake, declared a state of emergency on May 29, with a wildfire only about a kilometre away from the northern Manitoba First Nation. Beardy and her three children were among the more than 2,400 Tataskweyak residents forced to leave their homes because of the fire. Northern Manitoba evacuees frustrated with lack of resources, information 4 hours ago Duration 2:33 Many evacuees fleeing wildfires in northern Manitoba say they're feeling a mix of emotions, from confusion and frustration to exhaustion. Over the past week, 2,400 residents of Tataskweyak Cree Nation were forced from their homes, and many are now trying to find refuge wherever they can. "There was buses coming in and they were just loading people up," said Melanie Spence, who was in Thompson for a day trip as the evacuation began. "People were kind of hesitant to go," she said. "They didn't know how big the fire was going to be there. They were hoping that it [would] be put out every day. We've never seen anything like this." PR 280 connecting the community to Thompson on the west and Gillam to the east is the only road servicing Tataskweyak. The road was closed off last week because of the fire. With the way home blocked off, Spence decided to help evacuees who ended up in Thompson, which is about a 100 kilometres southwest of the community, as the crow flies. She's been directing people to the city's Wawatay Inn, which is owned by Tataskweyak and usually serves people coming for medical appointments. "It's the closest thing to home," she said. "They serve food here. So I figured, well, this will be … the meeting place." Duke Beardy, an economic development officer with the First Nation, said the facility is open to evacuees from Tataskweyak as well as other communities. "There's people from Lynn Lake here too, and Nelson House too.… If there's room, then they stay here too," he said. But with only 18 rooms, space at the inn is limited. 'It's been chaos' Sylvia Saunders said about seven people in her party — including a baby and a toddler — were staying in the same room at the inn as of Wednesday. "It's been chaos for everybody here. Still a lot of people don't have rooms," Saunders said. "I did manage to fit everyone in there and to try and have a comfortable sleep." Saunders said people have resorted to sleeping in couches at the inn's lobby because of the lack of rooms. Edwin Beardy said the situation is already stressful enough. "It's frustrating as well as sad because of family, … they're all over," he said. "From what I'm hearing, my family, some of them are in Gillam, some of them in Winnipeg and a few are in Niagara Falls…. It's hard." Grace Beardy, who was also staying at the inn as of Wednesday, said she was waiting to connect with family who ended up in Winnipeg. Leaving the community "was cold and sad," she said. "But I couldn't be sad in front of my kids. I had to stay strong." The fire at Tataskweyak was about 21,000 hectares as of the latest provincial fire bulletin Friday.
