CONSEIL SCOLAIRE CATHOLIQUE FRANCO-NORD
A Franco-Cité Student Wins Gold in Baking at Skills Ontario

In a year marked by exceptional achievements, École secondaire catholique Franco-Cité and Conseil scolaire catholique Franco-Nord are celebrating a remarkable victory: Grade 11 student Janie Giroux won the gold medal in Baking the prestigious Skills Ontario competition, held in Toronto from May 4 to 6, 2026. Competing against 28 contestants from across the province, Janie Giroux distinguished herself through her talent, precision, and creativity, earning her a spot at the top of the podium in a discipline known for its high level of difficulty.

This year, participants were tasked with drawing inspiration from the flora of Niagara, a theme that Janie brilliantly interpreted through three refined creations: a delicately flavoured sponge cake, a rich and textured chocolate babka bread, as well as Napoleon bars and mille-feuilles infused with the flavour of Earl Grey tea. Through her attention to detail and artistic flair, she successfully translated the shapes, colours, and delicacy of floral elements into desserts that were both elegant and delicious.

Thanks to this outstanding performance, Janie will now represent Team Ontario at Skills Canada, taking place on May 28 and 29, 2026, in Toronto!

In addition to her gold medal, Janie also received an Award of Excellence along with a scholarship, presented to the student who achieved one of the highest scores among Francophone school boards, further recognition of her dedication and academic and professional excellence.

The Franco-Nord school community also wishes to highlight the essential guidance provided by Mr. Yves Lafrenière, teacher at École secondaire catholique Franco-Cité, whose support and expertise are a reflection of the Franco-Nord staff's constant commitment throughout every student's educational journey.

"This achievement illustrates not only Janie's talent, but also the quality of the specialized programs offered at all three Franco-Nord French-language Catholic Secondary Schools and the importance of promoting skilled trades among young Francophones. Since September, she has demonstrated great dedication in developing her technical skills in pastry making, which has clearly contributed to her success. We are all extremely proud of her!" says Tina Legault-Ouellet, Director of Education.

From provincial gold to the national stage: Janie Giroux is now embarking on the next chapter of an already remarkable journey. The entire school community extends its warmest congratulations and wishes her every success that reflects her exceptional talent!