The Leader - 24/03/2025

Learn Lead Inspire: The Innovation Hub Team

Grand Erie is thrilled to honour the dedicated team behind the development of the Innovation Hub at North Park Collegiate and Vocational School. This groundbreaking STEAM learning space is a first-of-its-kind in Grand Erie, designed to foster an ecosystem of exploration, imagination, and essential skills for students in grades 7 through 12. Under the visionary leadership of Chloe Bedard, Jeff Benner, Phil Cline, Emma Dailey, Karen Edgar, Jason Hall, and Miriam Lapeare, the Hub has been meticulously crafted to provide students with invaluable opportunities to develop problem-solving, communication, creativity, and teamwork skills that are critical for future success. The education team's innovative approach not only transforms traditional learning but also partners with community organizations to bring exciting programming to life. By aligning with Grand Erie's strategic plan prioritizing learning, well-being, and belonging, this remarkable initiative prepares students for a rapidly evolving world. We commend the team for their passion, creativity, and commitment to enriching the lives of our learners.

Learn Lead Inspire: Hailey DeDominicis

Screenwriter, Grand Erie Alum

It is with great pride that Grand Erie recognizes graduate Hailey DeDominicis for her outstanding contributions to the arts, exemplified by her recent achievement in screenwriting. Hailey, who attended Greenbrier Public School and North Park Collegiate and Vocational School in Brantford, made her vision a reality through the Netflix movie Our Little Secret. The achievement showcases not only her creativity but her determination, spending more than a decade honing her craft before seizing the opportunity during the pandemic to dedicate herself fully to screenwriting. Hailey's remarkable journey to the film industry serves as an inspiration to Grand Erie learners, illustrating the importance of perseverance and passion in pursuing one's dreams. We are proud that she has stayed connected to her Brantford roots and it's an honour to share her inspiring story more widely with our school communities by presenting Hailey with a Learn Lead Inspire award.

Student Showcase: OSSTF Student Achievement Award Winners

This winter, the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation invited high school writers and artists to submit creative works exploring the theme, 'Is Anyone Out There?' The annual creative arts competition is open to all public secondary school students in Ontario, and aims to spark imagination while fostering social responsibility and connection. From the submissions, nine provincial winners were chosen in nine categories, with $1,000 awarded to each. Hayden Mitchell and Ethan Harrison, both of Pauline Johnson Collegiate and Vocational School, and Gracie Smith of McKinnon Park Secondary School, all earned the top provincial awards for their artistic contributions in visual art, woodworking and creative writing, respectively.

Student Trustees Attend Education Action Conference

Student Trustees Aidyn Hill, Olivia Prince and Caitlyn Shields attended the Ontario Student Trustees Association (OSTA-AECO) Education Action Conference in Ottawa recently. The focus was to further advance their leadership skills, with various sessions, workshops and meetings offered, and the chance to network and share the learning with other Ontario student trustees. Each student trustee also had the opportunity to get more deeply involved in the issues that matter most to them, building leadership capacity around student well-being, diversity, equity and inclusion.

Incoming Student Trustees Ready to Learn, Lead and Inspire

Three new student leaders will take their seats at the board room table next year, each bringing the voices of their peers to represent and advocate for meaningful action. At a late February meeting of the Student Senate, hosted at Cayuga Secondary School, student leaders engaged in discussions on plans and initiatives, and concluded the day with the election of the new student trustees for the 2025-26 term. Members of the Student Senate elected Prabhisidak Singh to represent students in Brantford and Brant County, Harper Thompson to represent learners in Haldimand and Norfolk counties, and Ryleigh Staats, elected through a process of consensus-building to represent Indigenous students across the Grand Erie region.