PEEL DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
PDSB students qualify for international business competition

Business Students across Peel District School Board (PDSB) are making a huge splash throughout DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America), one of the largest internationally recognized business clubs. Through conferences and competitions, DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. 

On February 9, 2024, over 1,000 PDSB students participated in the provincial competition in downtown Toronto. They competed against approximately 6,200 students from all over Ontario. PDSB came away with 85 students successfully qualifying for the international competition in April in Anaheim, California against 10,000 students from 5 countries.    

This is a huge accomplishment for the 13 PDSB secondary schools that had successful students. North Park S.S. and Woodlands S.S., both had over 25 students qualify. Other PDSB schools with students advancing include:

• Castlebrooke S.S.
• Bramalea S.S.
• Erindale S.S.
• Heart Lake S.S.
• Jean Augustine S.S.
• John Fraser S.S.
• Meadowvale S.S.
• Sandalwood Heights S.S.
• Stephen Lewis S.S.
• Streetsville S.S.

Business teachers and DECA mentors are excited about how the club has supported and challenged students.   

"It is always a pleasure working with such amazing Peel students. They work hard and advancing to this level is an accomplishment well deserved! They always make us so proud!" said Paola Fiocco from North Park S.S.

"Our Woodlands DECA members are hard-working, driven, and carry with them a desire to help others achieve their goals. Whether they are preparing for competition on their own, training as a whole, or supporting others in their own preparations, our members are always looking for new ways to develop and demonstrate their leadership and community building skills."  said Lindsay Orr from The Woodlands School 

Likewise, student participants understand the value of participating in the club. Grade 12 students Prakash Kumar, Nitya Balaji and Aryan Shah from North Park Secondary School stated,

"DECA has helped us in so many ways! We are confident and our presentation skills are polished and perfected. We have learned how to write a report and network with industry leaders. Last year we advanced to Internationals by creating awareness around red seal trades and the need for people in these fields. This year we continued to refine our project management skills and advanced again to Internationals in the category of Project Management Selling Plan. We are so grateful to have these opportunities and have built bonds and experiences that we will keep forever."
 

Students compete in written and case study events, which may include a business pitch, community awareness and role plays in a variety of categories including Marketing Communication, Project Management, Sports and Entertainment, Retail Merchandising and Entrepreneurship to name a few. Members compete to advance on to the next level of competition. Grand prizes at the international competition include medals, trophies and monetary scholarships.

DECA is the biggest club at many of our secondary schools with over 2500 student members across Peel.  Club leaders offer mentorship opportunities to students and help prepare students for their chosen competition. The club instills professionalism and discipline and prepares youth to respond to authentic business cases and market demands. Many students who join DECA continue on to post secondary education in the fields of finance, medicine, engineering and business. 

Congratulations to all our winners and participants. Good luck at internationals!