Rainbow Schools Awarded Silver at 2013 Mock Trial Competition

Students from Confederation Secondary School were the proud recipients of the silver medal at the Mock Trial Competition on January 14, 2013.  Presenting the award, from left, are Madame Justice Patricia C. Hennessy, Mayor Marianne Matichuk and Greater Sudbury Police Chief Frank Elsner. The team included, from left, Danica Lavergne, Julia Whissell, back, Venessa Young-Armstrong, Josiah Walt, Mikaela MacKenzie and Rianne MacKenzie. The team was guided by the legal expertise of Karen Lische and Nathalie Boivin from the Crown Attorney’s Office and teacher Brad Smith.

Santeria Mulcahey, left, of Marymount Academy and Kevin Cacciotti, right, of Lockerby Composite School received the Miller Maki, LLP Best Witness Award from Trevor Kestle, President of the Sudbury and District Law Association, at the 2013 Mock Trial Competition.

Jeff Munro of Lasalle Secondary School, left, received the Lacroix, Forest Best Advocate Crown Award from Trevor Kestle, President of the Sudbury and District Law Association.

Josiah Walt of Confederation Secondary School, left, and Miranda Goudreau of St. Charles College, right, accepts the Weaver Simmons Best Advocate Defence Award from Berk Keaney of Weaver Simmons.

At the Mock Trial Competition on January 14, 2013, Lasalle Secondary School received the Edward J. Conroy Q.C. Team Civility Award. From left, Connie Hawkins, coach James Ross, Jeff Munro, Katie Bowers, Soheila Homayed, Hilary Ade, coach Renee Costantini, back, and Morgan Bottrell.

St. Charles College captured top honours at the 2013 Mock Trial Competition on January 14th, winning the coveted Hennessy Cup. From left are Madame Justice Patricia C. Hennessy, Jakob Graham, Mayor Marianne Matichuk, Troy Smith, Greater Sudbury Police Chief Frank Elsner, Jeremy Richer, Miranda Goudreau, Christopher Taylor and Brook-Lynn Laprairie.  The team was coached by Shannon Goffin, Adam Kosnick and Meaghan Boisvert of Miller Maki LLP and teacher Jaime Sauve.

Rainbow secondary school students showcased their analytical and critical thinking skills at the 12th annual Mock Trial Competition where they garnered the silver medal and captured a number of individual awards. The Mock Trial Competition was held on January 14th, 2013 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 Her Majesty the Queen versus an 18-year-old charged with possession and trafficking of illegal substances.

The Hennessy Cup was awarded to St. Charles College. Silver medals were presented to students from Confederation Secondary School, including Danica Lavergne, Julia Whissell, Venessa Young-Armstrong, Josiah Walt, Mikaela MacKenzie and Rianne MacKenzie. The team was guided by the legal expertise of Karen Lische and Natalie Boivin from the Crown Attorney’s Office and teacher Brad Smith.

Other awards that were presented included:

Miller Maki Best Witness Award
Kevin Cacciotti – Lockerby Composite School
Coaches:  Julie Lefebvre and Leonard Kim from the Crown Attorney’s Office
and
Santeria Mulcahey – Marymount Academy
Coaches: Danielle Vincent (Michel & Vincent Law) and Noemi Paquette (Robert Becket Law Office)
Award Presenter: Trevor Kestle (President of the Sudbury and District Law Association)

Lacroix, Forest Best Advocate Crown Award
Jeff Munro – Lasalle Secondary School
Coaches: James Ross and Renee Costantini (Conroy Trebb Scott Hurtubise LLP)
Award Presenter: Trevor Kestle (President of the Sudbury and District Law Association)

Weaver Simmons Best Advocate Defence Award
Josiah Walt – Confederation Secondary School
Coaches: Nathalie Boivin and Karen Lische (Crown Attorney’s Office)
and
Miranda Goudreau – St. Charles College
Coaches:  Shannon Goffin, Adam Kosnick and Meaghan Boisvert from Miller, Maki, LLP
Presenter: P. Berk Keaney (Weaver, Simmons)

Edward J. Conroy Q.C. Team Civility Award
Lasalle Secondary School
Coaches: James Ross and Renee Costantini (Conroy Trebb Scott Hurtubise LLP)
Presenter: James Ross (Conroy Trebb Scott Hurtubise 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.”

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.

“Students from Sudbury area secondary schools have fully embraced the Mock Trial program. They are taking advantage of the wonderful opportunity of working with local lawyers to experience the inside workings of the criminal justice system. Their enthusiasm and hard work is inspiring,” said Madame Justice Patricia C. Hennessy.

She added: “It is our hope that these students will be engaged citizens, whose experience of the court process will give them an understanding of important events in the life of the community.  We also know that this experience creates confident advocates, whether as students, citizens or professionals.”

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Media Contact:

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