Applied Business Management (ABM) students from the Louis Riel Arts and Technology Centre met the Prime Minister (PM) of Canada on February 15 at the Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG).  

The only high school students invited by the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce waited for the PM to arrive in a VIP reception room along with many of Winnipeg's prominent business owners and leaders. 

The students quickly realized they were in no ordinary room in the WAG. 

"I felt a bit out of place," said Brock Masserey. "I realized I need to learn more about how to talk and move with such accomplished people." 

When the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau arrived at the VIP room in a white dress shirt, dark blue tie, blue dress pants, black shoes, and blue-striped socks, he immediately approached the students.    

"I was shocked that he came to us first," said Lina Alfaouri. "He shook all our hands and was very interested in our program and what we had to say." 

The audience and students moved into the WAG auditorium and listened to a 45-minute fireside chat between Chamber CEO Loren Remillard and the PM. The engaging repartee spanned different topics, including the Navalny death in Russia, immigration rates, global trade, Truth and Reconciliation priorities, entrepreneurship and the economy, the pandemic response, and Winnipeg's quest for a thriving downtown. 

"It was a privilege to be immersed in a world that we're never in but would like to get into one day," said Tyler Free. 

The ABM program will continue its partnership with the Winnipeg Chamber and looks forward to more exciting business engagements. 

The ABM program is available to all Grade 11 and 12 students in LRSD. More info is available here.