When In the Lead came into Lester B. Pearson High School, we needed it — urgently. Our students were struggling to connect positively with one another, conflict was common, and staff were searching for a way to restore a sense of safety, respect, and possibility. I believed deeply in our students, but belief alone wasn’t enough. We needed the right support at the right moment.
In the Lead arrived when it mattered most.
What I saw next was powerful. Students began grounding their choices in clear values, not impulse. They started taking accountability for their actions — owning mistakes and learning from them instead of shutting down or lashing out. Conversations that once escalated into conflict became opportunities for understanding.
Students learned how to identify and express their feelings in constructive, self-regulated ways. Stress no longer had to come out sideways. They built real capacity to manage pressure — naming what they were feeling, asking for help, and choosing healthier responses.
Perhaps most importantly, our students learned how to be with one another differently. They became more respectful and receptive to diverse beliefs and perspectives. They learned how to manage conflict and differences of opinion without disrespect. They began to consider the needs and feelings of others and communicate clearly, calmly, and respectfully — skills that will serve them far beyond our school walls.
Students who once felt they didn’t belong found community. Those who felt unheard found their voice. And our school began to feel safer — not just physically, but emotionally.
This is what your support makes possible. In the Lead doesn’t just change behaviour — it changes how young people see themselves and how they show up in the world. As a principal, I’ve seen the difference firsthand. As a community, we are stronger because of it.
— Mr. Chee, Principal, Lester B. Pearson High School
This is the difference your support makes. Thank you to all our champions, advocates and supporters!
