Close to 300 people test their knowledge at trivia fundraiser for GFESS leadership conference

When ambitious students from the local high school organize an event that needs support from the community, it is the duty of the older population to make sure that happens.

This was a sentiment shared by Ward 1 Councillor George McDermott on Friday at a trivia night at Greater Fort Erie Secondary School (GFESS), a fundraiser for a student leadership conference that will draw 250 students from eight secondary schools within District School Board of Niagara (DSBN) on February 19.

Close to 300 people were in attendance in teams of eight to test their knowledge on a variety of subjects.

“If you don’t support the efforts of young people, you’re not setting a good example,” said McDermott, who was part of a Town of Fort Erie team that consisted of members of staff, as well as Ward 4 Councillor Joan Christensen.

Mackenzie Arts, prime minister of the student council at GFESS said the leadership conference is shaping up to be a success and that 32 tables were sold for the fundraiser, two more than a goal of 30 that had been previously set.

She called the turnout “awesome” and said “lots of meetings” and correspondence with students from other high schools are taking place.

“It’s all really coming together,” said Arts, adding that the conference’s keynote speaker will be Julianna Marcel, a GFESS graduate and former DSBN trustee who was also awarded the 2024 Ontario Public Student Trustee Leadership Scholarship.

Principal Fred Louws said he’s very proud of Arts for the leadership she has shown in the school, but also for her work on Friday’s fundraiser and the upcoming conference.

“She’s led this right from its infancy,” he said.

He said there are many students at GFESS who lead by example.

“They’ve been empowered to branch out and do all these great things,” said Louws, pointing to a new program started two years ago called ‘Gryphon Guides,’ where Grade 9 students sign up to assist kids coming in from feeder schools, getting them used to secondary life.

“You see so much leadership within these groups because of kids like Mackenzie Arts and many others like her,” said Louws.

Participants of the conference will be members of various student councils, student alliances, as well as equity, multicultural, and athletic groups.

Mike Atkins from Fun Guy Trivia led the show on Friday night in the GFESS cafeteria.

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