Personal Development and Community Involvement

Welcome to our Personal Development and Community Involvement programs. This page provides an overview of our initiatives, workshops, and leadership opportunities for students, staff, and parents/guardians. Explore each section to learn about our service offerings, special events, student leadership programs, preventative practices, social-emotional supports, and active citizenship activities designed to foster academic success, personal growth, well-being, and community engagement.

Service offer

SWLSB Elementary Playground Leadership

Each of us is carving a stone, erecting a column, or cutting a piece of stained glass in the construction of something much bigger than ourselves.” Adrienne Clarkson

The Playground Leadership Program is the first stage in SWLSB student leadership development.

School staff oversee and implement a student-centered program where Grade 5 and 6 students help Kindergarten to Grade 2 students play and stay active together during recess and lunch throughout the school year.

SWLSB Secondary Student Leadership

Get the training and tools to lead.

Leadership development is a process. There are no shortcuts.

The Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board Secondary Student Leadership Certificate initiative is transformative by empowering students to develop the confidence, competencies, and skills needed for success in all areas of their lives. This is the next step for Elementary Playground Leaders.

– OPEN TO ALL SWLSB SECONDARY STUDENTS –

EVERY WEDNESDAY 19:00-20:00 on ZOOM

One meeting a week, at lunch, in your school. Work on teams and follow your PATHWAY.

Model the Way Honours

The annual MODEL THE WAY HONOURS ceremony is held at Cineplex in partnership with Desjardins Caisse de Chomedey and takes place at the end of the school year. It is our time to honour the impact that our students are having at home and around the world. 

An Honour is not an award that can be won or earned. Each Honour is a recognition of time, energy, effort and dedication to make our school communities and world a better place. 

Model The Way (MTW) is leadership in service. 

Montreal’s Kelly Alexander host the Model The Way Honours.

Indigenous Legacy Initiatives

LISTEN   –   LEARN   –   DO BETTER

We are committed to reconciliation and ensuring that the tragic history and ongoing legacy of residential schools is never forgotten in order to build a better Canada for all of us.

CONTACT THE TEAM

Resources & Professional Development: Melanie Bujold – Social Services Officer- PSD, SWLSB

In-School Connections: Daniel Johnson, Personal Development Animator – PSD, SWLSB

Reconciliation is unique for each school community, we work to support those journeys.

TEDx Youth @ Laval

“Great communication depends on two simple skills—context, which attunes a leader to the same frequency as his or her audience, and delivery, which allows a leader to phrase messages in a language the audience can understand.”          John Maxwell

We are building partnerships with schools and communities of diverse languages and culture.

TEDx Youth @ Laval is a platform where young people share their ideas, inspire their peers, and engage with their community and the world.

Date: Thursday, April 2, 2026

TEDx Youth @ Laval is a platform where young people share their ideas, inspire their peers, and engage with their community.

·       Students prepare a 5-minute TEDx Talk (max 18 minutes under TED rules).

·       Talks can be delivered in the language of their choice. For global sharing, English subtitles will be added.

·       Students may join as speakers or part of the production team (tech, logistics, coordination).

The event is by students, for students — they make the key decisions. TEDx Youth @ Laval is part of TEDx Laval.

NextGEN Assembly of Leaders

A national experiential learning forum where student leaders connect with Canadian leadership to learn about and solve issues at international, national, and local levels…in 5 hours. 

The NextGEN Assembly of Leaders is a hybrid event that will take place virtually and in-person at Parliament, in partnership with Senator Tony Loffreda, the Senate of Canada, and schools across Canada. The NextGEN Assembly invites all politicians from all political parties in Canada.

  • A politician will meet with your student leadership team to exchange ideas about current issues before the government. (International, federal, territory, provincial, local governments, and First Nations leaders.)

Hybrid Locations

  • High School Student Leaders will have the opportunity to participate in the Senate of Canada in Ottawa, or online at their schools in different Provinces or Territories.
  • Québec Elementary Student Leaders will have the opportunity to participate with political leaders in Rosemère, QC.

Remembrance Day

MATERIALS, CEREMONY SUPPORT, LESSONS, CONTENT, CITIZENSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, BURSARIES, & CONNECTIONS.

September / October: Poster Contest

October 15-November 1: Delivery of Poppies to to schools through internal mail. (STICKERS ARE IN LIMITED SUPPLY)

November 1: Poppy Campaign begins

Pink in the City

Pink In The City is a charity created by a SWLSB student that supports the Breast Cancer Clinic at our McGill University Health Centre. 

PINK CHAMPIONS are the brave students and community members who are willing to cut and donate at least 8inches of their hair or shave their heads.

A PINK CHAMPION can be any age. They set their fundraising goals and our ASL teams work to support them.

There are 2 ways to raise awareness and money for our MUHC breast cancer clinic.

  1. Shave your head.
  2. Cut your hair and donate it for wig-making.

A survivor and ‘Pink Ambassador’ is also making their time available to students and each school to help raise awareness by sharing their journey and story.

FUNDRAISING

  1. PINK CHAMPIONS create their own MUHC fundraising page and join their school’s team. 
  2. Share the page with your school community, family and friends.
  3. Hold school fundraiser and awareness campaigns.

IN THE NEWS

LAVAL NEWS 2024: Pink in the Rink: Concordia University Womens and Mens charty hockey games.

LAVAL NEWS 2024: Raise Craze

GLOBAL NEWS MONTREAL 2024: Raise Craze CITY TV  MONTREAL 2024: RAISE CRAZE 2024