DeSerres art store puts student creativity on display

DeSerres art store puts student creativity on display
Posted on 11/01/2021
DeSerres art store puts student creativity on display

An eye-catching artistic display greets visitors to DeSerres art store in the St. Laurent Shopping Centre. The paintings and drawings adorning the store were created by OCDSB Grade 11 and 12 students, together with students from other districts, as part of a virtual Co-Operative Education experience this summer.


The young artists were enrolled in the OCDSB’s Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) program, which allows students to explore a career path that matches their skills, interests and talents while earning a Specialist Ontario Secondary School Diploma.


They unleashed their creativity at home, using art materials provided by DeSerres and taking part in virtual workshops to learn new art techniques and gain professional insights for their future careers.


This summer, the students joined online sessions led by Leslie Roach, Ottawa-based poet, writer, author and lawyer. Leslie’s debut collection of poetry, Finish this Sentence (published by Mawenzi House), provided the inspiration for a set of word art pieces, as the students explored the book’s themes of empowering oneself and finding one's way along the journey of life. They brought the artwork to life through a beautiful word art video and store window display based on the poems.


This initiative is the latest chapter in the partnership between the OCDSB and DeSerres, which began in 2014. The store welcomed students for in-person Co-Op placements and created a space to host classes with local schools. During the pandemic, these experiences have shifted to a virtual model, providing new opportunities for students to connect with professional artists.


Congratulations to the outstanding student artists who took part in this summer’s virtual Co-Op: Claire, Emma, Evan, Farah, Leann, Leia, Nicole, Sabrina, Sadie, Shilpa, Sydney, and Vicky. Check out the gallery below to see more of their creations!


Thank you to Thomas Baribault, Manager at DeSerres St. Laurent, and to all of the artists and community partners who have made these learning opportunities possible.


Learn more about the OCDSB’s SHSM and Co-Operative Education programs!
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