Last month, the Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) G7 Student Senate* launched the 2025 Great Grain Challenge across all secondary schools.
The annual two-week event took place from March 17 to 28, and encouraged students to collect grain items, or other non-perishable products for local food banks. Schools received one point for every non-perishable product, and two points for every whole grain product or for every cash/gift card donation.
At the end of the week, the total number of products collected at each school was calculated and divided by the number of students within the schools to see who won — in total, 3,213 products were collected across the six secondary schools and the Virtual Learning Centre, which have all been donated to selected local food banks in each region of the Board. This year’s winning school was Lindsay Collegiate and Vocational Institute (LCVI) who collected just under 1,000 items!
One highlight of the week was LCVI hosting a Macaroni and Cheese Cook Off to encourage students to get involved. Staff came together to make signature mac and cheese dishes and students paid $2 to sample each dish, then voted for their favourite. The winning staff member, family studies teacher, Brittany Zablosky, received the coveted golden spoon trophy!
“The Great Grain Challenge is more than just a fun competition between secondary schools, it is also a great way to bring the greater (and very expansive) TLDSB community together while helping those in need,” said G7 Student Senate LCVI representative, Ella Wilson. “After encouraging each student to bring in only one item each, our large outcome of grain items exhibits just how much of a difference can be made when people are brought together. It is an endeavour that is a win-win for all.”
*The TLDSB G7 Student Senate is a group of students made up of one representative from each secondary school elected by their peers to help communication between students and bring student issues to the Board of Trustees.
