Rainbow Schools Awarded Gold and Silver at 2016 Mock Trial Competition

Rainbow secondary school students showcased their analytical and critical thinking skills at the 16th 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 11th, 2016 at the Sudbury Court House.

Close to 65 students in Grade 12 from Rainbow District School Board, the Sudbury Catholic District School Board and the Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario donned legal gowns to prosecute and defend the case of an aspiring Olympic curler for the second-degree murder of his partner.

The Hennessy Cup was awarded to a team from Lockerby Composite School, including Chandra Paquette, Sarah Bertrand, Abigail White, Madison Kvaltin, Holly Gran and Camila Figueroa. The team was guided by the legal expertise of Zachary Courtemanche of Weaver, Simmons LLP, Michael Macnamara of Conroy Trebb Scott Hurtubise LLP, Lindsey Santerre of Robert Beckett Law and teacher Janet Laliberte.

Silver medals were presented to students from Lasalle Secondary School, including Spencer Allen, Laura Cummings, Greg Elve, Austin Freeland, Brendan Ketchen, Jakob Lebel, Patrick Nelson, Chanelle Trottier, Matthew Tuttle and Rebekah Zinger. The team was guided by the legal expertise of Dhiren Chohan, Jordan Duplessis and Renee Gregor of Weaver, Simmons LLP and teacher Corinne Yantha.

The Hennessy Cup is part of the OJEN/OBA Competitive Mock Trials, a provincial program of the Ontario Bar Association and the Ontario Justice Education Network. The OBA and OJEN support mock trial competitions like the Hennessy Cup throughout the province. The teams that competed in Sudbury use the same case scenario and format as about 100 teams throughout Ontario.

Other awards that were presented included:

	Miller Maki LLP Best Witness Award Tie between Kailey Walker, Confederation Secondary School and Julia Jenkins, St. Charles College Coaches: Confederation Secondary School coaches include Kevin Ludgate and Jenna Dafoe (Crown Attorney’s Office). St. Charles College coaches include Adam Kosnick, Meaghan Boisvert, and Rebecca Ducharme (Miller Maki LLP). Award Presenter: Lucille Shaw (Miller Maki LLP)
	Lacroix, Forest LLP Best Advocate Crown Award Abigail White, Lockerby Composite School Team 1 Coaches: Lindsey Santerre (Robert Beckett Law), Michael Macnamara (Conroy Trebb Scott Hurtubise LLP) and Zachary Courtemanche (Weaver, Simmons LLP). Award Presenter: Lea Britt (Lacroix, Forest LLP)
	Edward J. Conroy Q.C. Team Civility Award Sudbury Secondary School Coaches: Alexandre Caza, Gary Marcuccio and Dave Braumberger (Miller Maki LLP). Award Presenter: Mathieu Ansell (Conroy Trebb Scott Hurtubise LLP)
	Weaver Simmons Best Advocate Defence Award Brendan Costello, Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School Coaches: Danielle Vincent (Michel & Vincent Law Barristers & Solicitors), Heather Salter and Renee Fuchs (Legal Aid Ontario). Award Presenter: Jordan Duplessis (Weaver, Simmons LLP)

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 legal field after secondary school.”

She added: “We commend the legal community for being exceptional role models for community service and student success. We also applaud the Ontario Bar Association and the Ontario Justice Education Network for making this opportunity possible for students across Ontario.”

The Mock Trial Competition is well established within the Grade 12 Law curriculum, and, earlier in the school year, a team of Rainbow District School Board teachers worked to ensure the experiential learning opportunity aligned with the new curriculum in senior law. In addition to meeting curriculum expectations, mock trials develop other skills in students, including public speaking, teamwork, presentation, preparation and critical thinking skills.

“The students are faced with the difficult task of proving a criminal offense beyond a reasonable doubt,” said Madame Justice Patricia C. Hennessy. “To succeed, they must understand how to best present the evidence and to argue their positions.”

She added: “Win or lose, they learn how difficult the job of proving a case can be and how the court grapples with different types of evidence. These are important concepts in a democracy.  At the end of the day, these students, our future community leaders, will learn lessons they will never forget, skills they will always use, and develop a confidence that will stand them in good stead no matter what they do or where they go.”

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Media Contact:

Tiffany Roberts, Curriculum Co-ordinator,
Rainbow District School Board, 705-523-3308, ext. 8209.

Lockerby Composite School captured top honors at the 2016 Mock Trial Competition on January 11th, winning the coveted Hennessy Cup. From left are Chandra Paquette, Sarah Bertrand, Abigail White, Madison Kvaltin, Holly Gran and Camila Figueroa.

Students from Lasalle Secondary School were the proud recipients of the silver medal at the Mock Trial Competition on January 11, 2016. The team included, back row, from left, Greg Elve, Austin Freeland, Matthew Tuttle, coach Jordan Duplessis, coach Dhiren Chohan and Jakob Lebel and front row, from left, Laura Cummings, Rebekah Zinger, Spencer Allen, Brendan Ketchen and teacher Corinne Yantha.

Lawyer Madison Kvaltin questions witness Camila Figueroa of Lockerby Composite School during the Mock Trial Competition on Monday, January 11, 2016 at the Sudbury Court House.