Being a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer requires many skillsets, and students at St. Clair College's Border Services program are getting some amazing hands-on experiences to prepare them for their future careers.
Not only do Border Services students learn about pertinent legislation, procedures, and documentation required to move people and goods across the border, they also obtain important communication, dispute resolution and critical thinking skills. Students also engage in extensive physical preparation required to be an officer, with 'use of force' training and conditioning as major components of the coursework.
But in the ever-evolving world of border security, officers need to be ready for any perceived threat, and that includes recognizing counterfeit currencies.
Manuel Parreira, the Senior Regional Representative for Outreach and Engagement (Currency) from the Bank of Canada presented a fantastic, hands-on workshop to students during the Winter 2025 semester.
This workshop taught students many ways to detect counterfeit currency and allowed them the opportunity to put their knowledge into action by examining real bank notes.
"Mr. Parreira showed me some very unique ways to distinguish a counterfeit banknote from a real banknote, along with many techniques the bank uses to catch criminals making, distributing, and buying counterfeit currency and some intriguing case studies," said Zayne Boughazale, a second-year Border Services student at St. Clair.
"The presentation was everything I expected and more," said Taylor Standel, also a second-year Border Services student. "It taught me a lot, and I will definitely be using the things I learned in life every day and hopefully in my future law enforcement career."
Next, CBSA welcomed students for a tour of the port of entry at the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel. Students met with recruiters and agency representatives to hear first-hand about various careers available through CBSA. They also learned about search and seizure, saw vehicle scanners and watched the K9 unit in action.
"It was a rare and informative look into the operations that keep our border safe and secure," said Mitchell Momney, a second-year Border Services student. "It was an incredible opportunity to witness the CBSA's dedication to public safety and professionalism."
According to Melissa Kakuk, the program coordinator and professor in the Border Services program, being situated in a border city like Windsor gives St. Clair students the opportunity to engage with front-line officers at their facilities, opportunities which aren't available to students in many other jurisdictions.
"Providing these experiences to students allows them the opportunity to see and do things that can help them choose the right career path and enter their chosen profession with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful," Kakuk said.
