Building from the Ground Up
This spring, students at St. Paul and St. Patrick’s High Schools participated in a truly unforgettable experience: the Be YOU Project, a cross-curricular initiative that brought creativity, identity, and hands-on learning together in powerful and meaningful ways.
At its heart, Be YOU was more than a class project—it was a journey of self-discovery. Students didn’t just learn—they built, designed, and expressed themselves from the ground up. Using custom kits from Roarockit, each student handcrafted two skateboard decks: one to keep and one to display in their school community. Starting from raw materials, they turned simple wood into personal works of art, rich with meaning and story.
Exploring Identity Through Art and Design
Throughout the process, students explored woodworking, design, and visual arts while engaging with deeper questions about identity, culture, and belonging. They were guided by two incredible guest artists who brought inspiration and expertise to the experience.
- Jay Odjick, an acclaimed Indigenous artist, led sessions on the role of art in preserving culture and sharing personal stories. Jay encouraged students to reflect on their own heritage and identity and use their skateboard decks as a canvas for storytelling. His guidance helped students connect deeply with their sense of place and community.
- Tyler Proulx, a talented stencil and sticker art specialist, ensured that all students, including high-needs Inclusion students, could participate fully and meaningfully. Through accessible and adaptive techniques, Tyler empowered every learner to express their personality and vision confidently.
Connecting Passion to Pathways
In addition to the creative work, students also participated in presentations about pathways and the skilled trades. These sessions helped connect their hands-on learning to real-world opportunities, sparking ideas for future careers and showing how their unique strengths and interests could lead to meaningful and fulfilling work.
A Showcase of Stories and Skateboards
The project culminated in a vibrant showcase event on Tuesday, May 27, held at the Lansdowne Park Horticulture Building. All of the student-created skateboard decks were displayed on a large wall installation, transforming the space into a dynamic gallery of youth voices and visions. Students, staff, and community members gathered to celebrate the students’ accomplishments and to witness the stories they had so boldly and beautifully expressed.
A Royal Moment to Remember
Adding to the excitement, the Be YOU Project was also featured during the royal visit to Lansdowne Park the day before the student showcase. As part of the official tour, King Charles and Queen Camilla stopped to view the students’ skateboard art. Two students from St. Patrick’s High School joined OCSB staff to welcome Their Majesties and share an overview of the project. King Charles had a brief but memorable conversation with the students, asking how long it took them to complete their work. The moment was made even more special by his lighthearted remark that he had once tried skateboarding in his youth, but joked that he’d better not attempt it now!
Be YOU: A Lasting Impact
The Be YOU Project was a shining example of what Deep Learning can look like when students are empowered to explore who they are and how they relate to the world around them. It built artistic and technical skills, yes—but more importantly, it built confidence, pride, and a stronger sense of identity and community.
