BY JASON THOMPSON
Sudbury Secondary School, known for its performing arts program, is also making a name for itself in business with the introduction of the business certificate program (BCP).
The BCP is a four-year course designed to complement the secondary school business curriculum with real world experiences.
The ultimate goal of the program is to have students running their own businesses during their senior year.
?We have a unique situation at our school where we have staff who are very knowledgeable about business, and we had an entrepreneurship program that was very successful so the timing was right to start the program,? said Dave St. Amour, vice-principal at Sudbury Secondary and program head.
The money to start the program came from a $20,000 innovation fund grant from the Rainbow District School Board. The purpose of the innovation fund is to start a unique program and to judge its merits and determine if it can be replicated across the board.
Within the BCP, there are three different certificates the students can work toward, the small business development certificate, the business technology certificate or the arts administration certificate.
Being a performing arts school, St. Amour said the Arts Administration tier has generated a lot of student attention. The BCP has attracted some attention from Cambrian College. St. Amour said when he presented the idea to Cambrian officials they were excited about the opportunities provided to students through partnership.
Diane Cowden, dean of the school business, media and creative arts at Cambrian said the program is good because it enhances the business education profile, especially at the secondary school level.
?We?re very excited that secondary schools are taking up business studies in a serious way, the pathways to business are not as clear as they have been in the past because of the diminished number of business courses in Ontario?s secondary schools,? she said.
?The fact Sudbury Secondary has packaged business programs, and is marketing it as a viable pathway from secondary school studies to post-secondary, is wonderful for us.?
