Lasalle students garner awards at local, provincial and national competitions

Specialist High Skills Major in Business

Students in the Specialist High Skills Major in Business at Lasalle Secondary School continue to garner awards at local, provincial and national competitions. “This has been a banner year for the young entrepreneurs of Lasalle Secondary School,” says Principal Craig Runciman. “Students are reaping the rewards of the Specialist High Skills Major in Business which was launched last fall.”

It all began when Lyndsay Brisard captured a silver medal at the E-Spirit National Aboriginal Youth Business Plan Competition in Regina in May. He subsequently placed first in the Ontario Business Educators’ Association (OBEA) Provincial Entrepreneurship Competition with project partner Andrew Horodziejczyk who took first place in the competition last year.

Brisard and Horodziejczyk also captured top honours at the FedNor Regional Business Challenge Competition held on June 3, 2008. They will go on to compete in the Provincial FedNor Challenge in November. For their efforts, the students have earned $1,500 in cash, a $2,500 scholarship and $6,000 in prizes and gift certificates.

Mary Crawford and Karen Fong placed second in the FedNor Regional Business Challenge with “Recycled Expressions.” Billy Mekers captured third place with his business “Music Down Easy”. Mekers also placed third in the OBEA Competition. Chris Forth (Nu Suds Custom Pics) and Sarah Pilon (Beddy Bye Book Bags) captured the fourth and fifth spots regionally.

In addition, a number of students from Lasalle Secondary School received special awards at the FedNor Regional Business Challenge Competition in a variety of categories – best trade show booth, superior sales ability, feasibility award, best use of promotional material, creativity of concept, and sportsmanship. “We commend all students on their very impressive showing,” said Principal Runciman. “Our Specialist High Skills Major in Business is off to a great start and we look forward to more profitable ventures in the future.”

The goal of the Specialist High Skills Major in Business is to prepare students for a successful transition to apprenticeship training, college, university or employment while meeting the requirements of the Ontario Secondary School Diploma. Students complete a bundle of 10 courses in Grades 11 and 12, with the support of the local business community.

“The Specialist High Skills Major in Business gives students a head start in pursuing career goals,” says Lasalle Secondary School Business teacher and mentor Leo Leclair. “Students who complete a major will graduate from secondary school with the knowledge and skills valued by employers. They will be well prepared to pursue postsecondary education and training in business and business related fields.”

Lyndsay Brisard and Andrew Horodziejczyk developed a Summer Event Ride Program (S.E.R.P.), a spin off of the popular Red Nose campaign presented during the festive season. "If you are hosting a special event during the summer, such as a golf tournament, you could hire the S.E.R.P. team to drive guests and their vehicles home," explains Leclair. "The team of drivers would be available on site, co-ordinated by a S.E.R.P. representative in an effort to prevent guests from potentially drinking and driving." 

A fee, based on the number of guests, would be charged to the event organizer and the service would be free of charge to the guests. Leclair says the Summer Event Ride Program offers many benefits. "The event organizer not only has the satisfaction of knowing that participants have a safe way of getting home, they also eliminate the potential for liability issues that may come from a guest driving home under the influence."

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Media Contact:

Craig Runciman, Principal, Lasalle Secondary School,

Rainbow District School Board, 566.2280.