Sisler students get creative

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This article was published 27/02/2017 (3323 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There’s a whole lot of creativity happening at Sisler High School, much of it found in the Interactive Digital Media (IDM) program, where students get to live out their dreams.

“Sisler has been running ‘creative industry’ courses in animation, film, app development and game design since 2007,” said Jamie Leduc, teacher and department head of technology.

The only high school in the world with an educational partnership with Vancouver Film School, providing up to $72,000 in scholarships this June, Sisler High has much to celebrate. What started as a club with five computers and five cameras in 2007 is, 10 years later, 18 different courses, seven teachers, and 860 students.

“The IDM program is a new technical vocational education program launched in September 2015, an important part of the educational structure, and plays a major role in developing a flexible and well-educated work force to address current and emerging industry (animation, game design, app development, motion graphics, movie-making, augmented reality, virtual reality, etc) and labour-market needs, and allow Manitoba to compete globally,” Leduc said.

With fellow staffers Bernard Alibudbud and Steve Erickson, Leduc approached the province about developing a new interactive digital media framework. The three formed the writing team with help from Rosalyn Chiupka, a teacher with Louis Riel School Division. The creative industry classes have been expanding consistently since and student enthusiasm remains very high.

“Sisler’s IDM program lets me stay ahead of the game, so we are ready to dive into the creative industry right after school. The environment is full of creative people that force you to never stop innovating, which is amazing,” said Grade 12 student Kara Vallega. 

“Any course is as good as its teachers. What makes the IDM course an absolute joy are the people behind the framework. The teachers have not only polished my skill set but also refined me as a person and have pushed me to be a better filmmaker and a better person than I was yesterday,” said Ritvick Mehra, also in Grade 12.

A great variety of companies have hired students from the Sisler IDM program. 

“We offer a real and relevant vocational program which prepares students to enter the creative industry. Students are becoming the next generation of creators rather than consumers. They give back, teaching younger generations, developing a fantastic grassroots program,” added Leduc, who aims to see Manitoba become a leader in the global creative industry by working with the Winnipeg School Division, New Media Manitoba, and Manitoba Film & Music to develop a logical path to employment.

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Janine LeGal
Wolseley community correspondent

Janine LeGal is a community correspondent for Wolseley. Know any interesting people, places and things in Wolseley?  Contact her at: janinelegal@gmail.com

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