Rainbow Schools Awarded Gold and Silver at 2014 Mock Trial Competition

Rainbow secondary school students showcased their analytical and critical thinking skills at the 14th annual Mock Trial Competition where they garnered both gold and silver medals and captured a number of individual awards. The Mock Trial Competition was held on January 10th, 2014 at the Sudbury Court House.

Close to 85 students in Grade 12 from Rainbow District School Board and the Sudbury Catholic District School Board donned legal gowns to prosecute and defend the case of an accused charged with first-degree murder.

The Hennessy Cup was awarded to a team from Confederation Secondary School, including Matthew Walker, Kaitlyn Byers, Shannon Little, Emily Villeneuve, Skyler Chartrand, Kaliden Foster and Alexandria Smuland. The team was guided by the legal expertise of Karen Lische of the Crown Attorney’s Office and teacher Brad Smith.

Silver medals were presented to students from Lockerby Composite School, including Kevin Harbottle, Neill Martin, Pavendeep Grewal, Kevin Fram, Cassady McFadden, Kelsey Lai and Vanessa Bartoli. The team was guided by the legal expertise of Leonard Kim from the Crown Attorney’s Office and teacher Shari Blasutti.

Other awards that were presented included:

Skyler Chartrand – Confederation Secondary School

Coaches:  Karen Lische (Crown Attorney’s Office) and Brad Smith (Teacher)

Award Presenter: Lucille Shaw, Civil Litigation and Defence Attorney (Miller Maki LLP)

Shelby Ernst – Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School

Coaches: Mike Gauthier, James Ross (Orendorff & Associates) and Terry Pagan (Teacher)

Award Presenter: Andrée Lacroix (Lacroix, Forest LLP)

Pavendeep Grewal – Lockerby Composite School

Coaches: Leonard Kim (Crown Attorney’s Office) and Shari Blasutti (Teacher)

Award Presenter: Berk Keaney (Weaver, Simmons)

St. Charles College Team 1 and 2

Award Presenter: Michael Macnamara (Edward J. Conroy)

Rainbow District School Board Chair, Doreen Dewar, thanked the volunteer coaches from the Sudbury and District Law Association and the Sudbury Crown Attorney’s Office who, year after year, provide hundreds of hours of time to this project.  “Through the Mock Trial Competition, local lawyers make an invaluable contribution to student learning by bringing the classroom into the courtroom,” she said. “Many students have been inspired to pursue studies in the justice sector after secondary school.” She added: “We commend the legal community for being exceptional role models for community service and student success.”

The Mock Trial Competition is well established within 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.

“Open courts and open justice are necessary for citizens to have confidence in the administration of justice.  Most people will not go to courts to watch trials. They are more likely to read about them in newspapers or other media,” said Madam Justice Patricia C. Hennessy, Mock Trial Project Leader since its inception 13 years ago. “As these students prepare to prosecute or defend a serious charge, they can appreciate the importance of the fundamental principles of proof beyond reasonable doubt and the presumption of innocence as the foundation of the society governed by the rule of law.”

She added: “This experience increases the students’ understanding of the legal process and allows them to follow media reports of local or national legal matters with a critical eye. It is our hope that these students will be engaged citizens, whose experience of the trial process will give them an understanding of important justice issues in the life of the community.  We also know that this experience creates confident advocates, whether as students, citizens or professionals.”

Students from Confederation Secondary School will go on to the Northeastern Mock Trial Competition to be held in early March. Regional winners will compete in the province-wide finals in Toronto in the spring.

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Media Contact:

Tiffany Roberts, Curriculum Co-ordinator,

Rainbow District School Board, 705-523-3308, ext. 8209.

Confederation Secondary School captured top honours at the 2014 Mock Trial Competition on January 10th, winning the coveted Hennessy Cup. Back row, from left, are Brad Smith (Teacher), Matthew Walker, Kaitlyn Byers, Shannon Little, Emily Villeneuve, Skyler Chartrand, Lauren Somers and Kaliden Foster. Front row, from left, are Alexandria Smuland, Ashley Monohan, Cheyenne Patrakka and Kylee White. Karen Lische of the Crown Attorney’s Office and teacher Brad Smith coached the team to victory.

Students from Lockerby Composite School were the proud recipients of the silver medal at the Mock Trial Competition on January 10, 2014. The team included, back row, from left, Kevin Harbottle, Neill Martin, Pavendeep Grewal, Leonard Kim (Coach from Crown Attorney’s Office) and Kevin Fram. Front row, from left, Shari Blasutti (teacher), Cassady McFadden, Kelsey Lai and Vanessa Bartoli. The team was guided by the legal expertise of Leonard Kim from the Crown Attorney’s Office and teacher Shari Blasutti.

Skyler Chartrand of Confederation Secondary School, left, received the Miller Maki, LLP Best Witness Award from Lucille Shaw, Civil Litigation and Defence Attorney, at the 2014 Mock Trial Competition.