Lockerby Composite School places third in Provincial Mock Trial Competition

Lockerby Composite School captured third place at the Provincial Mock Trial Competition held in Toronto on April 15, 2009, the best provincial showing from a Northern Ontario team. Team members, from left, are Mathieu Labonte, James Sylvestre, Anthony Richer, Zachary Courtemanche, Anthony Maki and Spencer Lee with teacher Shari Blasutti (centre).

Lockerby Composite School captured third place at the Provincial Mock Trial Competition held in Toronto on April 15, 2009, the best provincial showing from a Northern Ontario team.

Mathieu Labonte, Zach Courtemanche, Anthony Maki, James Sylvestre, Anthony Richer and Spencer Lee won the honour of competing provincially by placing first at local and regional events.

“We commend Lockerby Composite School for their impressive showing at the provincial level,” said Rainbow District School Board Chair Judy Hunda. “Students demonstrated, once again, that they have the skills to hold their own in a court of law and we are proud of them for their outstanding achievement.” She added: “Their success is also a tribute to their teacher and the local lawyers who mentored them along the way.”

Grade 12 Law teacher Shari Blasutti as well as lawyers Jennifer Madott and John Recoskie, from the local law firm of Weaver Simmons, coached the team to victory.

At the provincial level, students prosecuted and defended the case of Her Majesty the Queen versus Edvard Nosferatu (also known as Howard Stunned) who is charged with willfully promoting hatred against the Floman ethnic group. The Lockerby team competed against seven teams from Southern Ontario.

The Mock Trial process, now in its seventh year, is very closely aligned with the Grade 12 Law curriculum. In addition to meeting curriculum expectations, mock trials develop other skills in students, including public speaking, teamwork, presentation, preparation and critical thinking skills.

This is the third year in which Lockerby Composite School represented Northern Ontario at the Provincial Mock Trial Competition.

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Media Contact:
Heather Gaffney, Principal, Lockerby Composite School,
Rainbow District School Board, 522-1750.