Mock Trial Team Competes in Ontario Mock Finals

Mr. Downer
On April 23 and 29, The Country Day School competed in an Ontario-wide mock trial tournament hosted by the Ontario Bar Association and the Ontario Justice Education Network. Each team consisted of 6-8 students with 4 lawyers and 2-4 witnesses. The students prepared to present both the prosecution and defence sides of a criminal case, which this year was for assault causing bodily harm. In the case, the teams had to prove or disprove that the defendant pushed another person down a flight of stairs during an argument. The teams are given points for their legal argumentation and for how well they portrayed their roles as lawyers and witnesses. The additional challenge this year was that the tournament was held in front of actual judges via Zoom video conferencing, similar to how actual criminal trials are being held now due to COVID restrictions. 
Sixteen teams from schools in Ottawa to London competed in the first round, and CDS was one of only two teams to advance to the final trial on April 29. It was a tremendous trial with both sides dueling with sophisticated legal tactics and compelling witness acting. CDS finished second after a lengthy deliberation by the three presiding judges who provided considerable positive feedback for our budding lawyers and actors. Grade 11 student, Tarini Amarasinghe was named “Standout Witness” of the tournament for her compelling delivery as a victim. The eight students who went to trial in the tournament had prepared rigorously for five months, assisted by several student ‘law clerks’ from the Mock Trial club who helped with research and rehearsal. The team was also advised by Carol Shirtliff-Hinds, the Deputy Chief Federal Prosecutor for the province of Ontario, who met weekly with the group. Coaches David Downer and Andrea Davidson could not have been prouder of the efforts put forth by these students.
 
The team members are: Lawyers: Christina Chkarboul ‘21 (captain), Paula Litwin-Logan ‘21, Nilou Doust ‘22, Nicole Damianidis ‘22, and witnesses Ainsley Johnston ‘21, Tarini Amarasinghe ‘22, Vivien Zhang ‘21 and Jessie Rudin ‘23.
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Land Acknowledgment

CDS wishes to recognize and acknowledge the land on which the school operates. For thousands of years, these have been the traditional lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. We also recognize the traditional territory of the Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabe and the Haudenosaunee peoples who also shared this land.  CDS respects the relationship with these lands and recognizes that our connection can be strengthened by our continued relationship with all First Nations, by acknowledging our shared responsibility to respect and care for these lands and waters for future generations.

School Information

13415 Dufferin Street King, Ontario L7B 1K5 
(905) 833-1220 

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Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.