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New college court room wins opening trial

Court was in session Thursday at Canadore College, although there weren’t really any judgments to be passed.
Court was in session Thursday at Canadore College, although there weren’t really any judgments to be passed.

The college officially opened its new court room, located at the Progress Court campus, which will be used by students in the Law and Justice programs: Correctional Worker, Law Clerk and Police Foundations.

Very somber jury
A mock trial was held presided over by ‘Justice’ Wayne Young,’ pictured above, from the Police Foundations program, and the case was listened to by a very somber jury.

“During their training our students learn about criminal and provincial statutes and how evidence is gathered, processed and presented. But as many of the officers in attendance can attest, no classroom or textbook experience adequately prepares a student for the anxiety that goes along with testifying in court or preparing a case for the crown attorney to prosecute,” said Leo DeJourdan, Coordinator of the Police Foundations program.

“Fortunately our graduates will be better prepared for this experience because of their participation in mock trials and hearings in this courtroom.”

Appropriate setting
Canadore president Barbara Taylor said the court room, which she says is the only one of its kind among Ontario’s community colleges, provides an appropriate setting “where the students can really apply what they’re learning.”

“It makes education real for the students it puts it in a context of, ‘yeah, this is what I’m really preparing to do when I graduate.”

Honourary diplomas
After the trial, Carson Fougere, retired superintendent of the Ontario Provincial Police North East region, and George Berrigan, who’s about to retire as chief of the North Bay Police Service, received honourary diplomas from Taylor and Cindy Boston, chairwoman of Canadore’s board of governors.