Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM)

What is SHSM?

Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) is a ministry funded diploma opportunity that provides industry mentorship through specific courses, industry-standard certifications, and real world experiences.  Students register in Grade 10 to participate in their Grade 11 & 12 years of secondary school. To learn more about SHSM, please visit the ministry website.


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Key Benefits for Students 

Pursuing a SHSM enables students to:

  • Customize their secondary school education to suit their interests and talents
  • Develop specialized knowledge and skills that are valued by the sector and postsecondary education institutions
  • Earn credits that are recognized by the sector and postsecondary education institutions
  • Acquire sector-specific and career-relevant certification and training
  • Gain confidence in their knowledge of the SHSM Sector
  • Identify, explore and refine their career goals and make informed decisions about their postsecondary destination
  • Remain flexible, with the option to shift between pathways


TVDSB SHSM Offered Programs

Over 70 SHSM programs are available across our school district. Current programs are available to search by sector or school listed below.

SHSM Sectors 

Aerospace / Aviation
Jet planes in london ontario

The ever-changing nature of aviation and aerospace, the complexity of supply chain dynamics, and the accelerated pace of change in the aerospace sector provide a variety of career opportunities for Ontario students.

Core industries in this sector include:

  • maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for aircraft, engines, avionics, systems, and equipment
  • design and manufacturing of commercial aircraft, engines, systems, avionics, equipment, and components
  • flight operations (e.g., pilot training, airport services, air traffic control, and space and equipment handling)

Sector

School

Brochure 
 Aviation Aviation TVDSB School Download
 Agriculture

shsm-agriculture-tvdsbThe SHSM – Agriculture enables students to build a foundation of sector-focused knowledge and skills before graduating and entering apprenticeship training, college, university, or an entry-level position in the workplace. Where local circumstances allow, boards may elect to offer one or more variants of the SHSM in a given sector, each with a particular area of focus. This SHSM may be designed to have a particular focus – for example, on agricultural equipment or animal and crop science. This focus is achieved through the selection of the four major credits in the bundle.

Sector

School

Brochure 
 Agriculture  College Avenue Secondary School Download
 Agriculture  North Middlesex District High School Download
 Agriculture  West Elgin Secondary School Download
 Arts and Culture

The SHSM–Arts and Culture enables students to build a foundation of sector-focused knowledge and skills before graduating and entering apprenticeship training, college, university, or an entry-level position in the workplace. Where local circumstances allow, boards may elect to offer one or more variants of the SHSM in a given sector, each with a particular area of focus. This SHSM may be designed to have a particular focus – for example, on dance, dramatic arts management or technical production. This focus is achieved through the selection of the four major credits in the bundle.

Sector

School

Brochure
 Arts and Culture

Arthur Voaden Secondary School

Download
 Arts and Culture

Clarke Road Secondary School

Download
 Arts and Culture College Avenue Secondary School
Download
 Arts and Culture H. B. Beal Secondary School
Download
 Arts and Culture Lord Dorchester Secondary School Download
 Arts and Culture

Medway Secondary School

Download
 Arts and Culture Parkside Collegiate Institute Download
 Arts and Culture Saunders Secondary School Download
 Arts and Culture Strathroy District Collegiate Institute Download
 Arts and Culture Westminster Secondary School Download
 Arts and Culture 

Woodstock Collegiate Institute

Download 
 Business

Business student sitting in classThe SHSM–Business enables students to build a foundation of sector-focused knowledge and skills before graduating and entering apprenticeship training, college, university, or an entry-level position in the workplace. Where local circumstances allow, boards may elect to offer one or more variants of the SHSM in a given sector, each with a particular area of focus. This SHSM may be designed to have a particular focus – for example, on entrepreneurship, finance, accounting, retail, marketing, international business, economics, management and administration, or event planning. This focus is achieved through the selection of the four major credits in the bundle.

Sector

School

Brochure
 Business A.B. Lucas Secondary School Download
 Business Central Elgin Collegiate Institute Download
 Business H. B. Beal Secondary School Download
 Business

Montcalm Secondary School

Download
 Business

Oakridge Secondary School

Download
 Business Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School
Download 
 Construction

The SHSM–Construction enables students to build a foundation of sector-focused knowledge and skills before entering apprenticeship training, college, university, or an entry-level position in the workplace.

Sector

School

Brochure
Construction A.B. Lucas Secondary School Download
Construction Arthur Voaden Secondary School Download
Construction

College Avenue Secondary School

Download
Construction

Glencoe District High School

Download

Construction

Ingersoll District Collegiate Institute

Download
Construction

Lord Dorchester 

Download
Construction

Parkside Collegiate Institute

Download
Construction

Saunders Secondary School

Download
Construction

Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School

Download
Construction

Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School

Download 
 Environment
The SHSM–Environment enables students to build a foundation of sector-focused knowledge and skills before graduating and entering apprenticeship training, college, university, or an entry-level position in the workplace. Where local circumstances allow, boards may elect to offer one or more variants of the SHSM in a given sector, each with a particular area of focus. This SHSM may be designed to have a particular focus – for example, on environmental science or environmental studies. This focus is achieved through the selection of the four major credits in the bundle.


Sector

School

Brochure
Environment East Elgin Secondary School Download
Environment

Strathroy District Collegiate Institute

Download
Environment West Elgin Secondary School Download
 Health and Wellness

Three students in a health and wellness classroomThe SHSM–Health and Wellness enables students to build a foundation of sector-focused knowledge and skills before graduating and entering apprenticeship training, college, university, or an entry-level position in the workplace. Where local circumstances allow, boards may elect to offer one or more variants of the SHSM in a given sector, each with a particular area of focus. This SHSM may be designed to have a particular focus – for example, on health care, fitness, or child care and family services. This focus is achieved through the selection of the four major credits in the bundle.

Sector

School

Brochure 
Health and Wellness Arthur Voaden Secondary School Download
Health and Wellness

Clarke Road Secondary School

Download
Health and Wellness

East Elgin Secondary School

Download
Health and Wellness

Huron Park Secondary School

Download
Health and Wellness

London Central

Download
Health and Wellness

Lord Dorchester Secondary School

Download
Health and Wellness

Oakridge Secondary School

Download
Health and Wellness

Saunders Secondary School

Download
Health and Wellness

Westminster Secondary School

Download
 Horticulture and Landscaping

The SHSM–Horticulture and Landscaping provides students with a strong foundation for a wide variety of careers in the horticulture and landscaping sector. It enables students to build a foundation of sector-focused knowledge and skills before graduating and entering apprenticeship training, college, university, or an entry-level position in the workplace.

Sector

School

Brochure
Horticulture and Landscaping  Parkside Collegiate Institute Download
 Hospitality and Tourism

The SHSM–Hospitality and Tourism enables students to build a foundation of sector-focused knowledge and skills before graduating and entering apprenticeship training, college, university, or an entry-level position in the workplace. Where local circumstances allow, boards may elect to offer one or more variants of the SHSM in a given sector, each with a particular area of focus. This SHSM may be designed to have a particular focus – for example, on tourism or hospitality. This focus is achieved through the selection of the four major credits in the bundle.




Sector

School

Brochure
Hospitality and Tourism Arthur Voaden Secondary School Download
Hospitality and Tourism

B. Davison Secondary School

Download
Hospitality and Tourism

Clarke Road Secondary School

Download
Hospitality and Tourism

Montcalm Secondary School

Download
Hospitality and Tourism

Saunders Secondary School

Download
Hospitality and Tourism Strathroy District Collegiate Institute Download
 Information and Communications Technology

The SHSM–Information and Communications Technology enables students to build a foundation of sector-focused knowledge and skills before graduating and entering apprenticeship training, college, university, or an entry-level position in the workplace. Where local circumstances allow, boards may elect to offer one or more variants of the SHSM in a given sector, each with a particular area of focus. This SHSM may be designed to have a particular focus – for example, on communication systems, computer systems, or software and digital media. This focus is achieved through the selection of the four major credits in the bundle.

Sector

School

Brochure
Information and Communications Technology H. B. Beal Secondary School Download
Information and Communications Technology Westminster Secondary School Download
Information and Communications Technology Woodstock Collegiate Institute Download
 Justice, Community Safety, and Emergency Services

justice shsmThe SHSM–Justice, Community Safety, and Emergency Services enables students to build a foundation of sector-focused knowledge and skills before graduating and entering apprenticeship training, college, university, or an entry-level position in the workplace. Where local circumstances allow, boards may elect to offer one or more variants of the SHSM in a given sector, each with a particular area of focus. This SHSM may be designed to have a particular focus – for example, on legal services, policing and private security services, the armed forces, or correctional services. This focus is achieved through the selection of the four major credits in the bundle.

 

Sector

School

Brochure 
 Justice, Community Safety, and Emergency Services Strathroy District Collegiate Institute Download
Non-Profit, Education, and Child Care
non-profit shsmThe SHSM–Non-profit enables students to build a foundation of sector-focused knowledge and skills before graduating and entering apprenticeship training, college, university, or a position in the workplace. Students will develop skills in the areas of problem solving, analysis, communication, cooperation, ethical values, consciousness, and citizenship. Where local circumstances allow, boards may elect to offer one or more variants of the SHSM in a given sector, each with a particular area of focus. This SHSM may be designed to have a particular focus – for example, on international development or community action. This focus is achieved through the selection of the four major credits in the bundle.

Sector

School

Brochure 
Non-Profit, Education, and Child Care  Clarke Road Secondary School Download
Non-Profit, Education, and Child Care  Huron Park Secondary School Download
Non-Profit, Education, and Child Care Ingersoll District Collegiate Institute Download
Non-Profit, Education, and Child Care Woodstock Collegiate Institute Download
Manufacturing

The SHSM–Manufacturing enables students to build a foundation of sector-focused knowledge and skills before graduating and entering apprenticeship training, college, university, or an entry-level position in the workplace. Students are exposed to a wide variety of careers in the manufacturing sector, from broad areas such as programming, operation, service, and repair to more specific areas such as robotics and advanced manufacturing.


Sector

School

Brochure
Manufacturing College Avenue Secondary School Download
Manufacturing East Elgin Secondary School Download
Manufacturing

H. B. Beal Secondary School

Download
Manufacturing

Huron Park Secondary School

Download
Manufacturing

Ingersoll District Collegiate Institute

Download
Manufacturing

Parkside Collegiate Institute

Download
Manufacturing

Saunders Secondary School

Download
Manufacturing Strathroy District Collegiate Institute Download
Manufacturing Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School Download
 Sports

A Student lifting weights in a gymThe SHSM–Sports enables students to build a foundation of sector-focused knowledge and skills before graduating and entering apprenticeship training, college, university, or an entry-level position in the workplace. Where local circumstances allow, boards may elect to offer one or more variants of the SHSM in a given sector, each with a particular area of focus. This SHSM may be designed to have a particular focus – for example, on competitive and recreational sports, sports management, or sports media and broadcasting. This focus is achieved through the selection of the four major credits in the bundle.

Sector

School

Brochure
Sports A.B. Lucas Secondary School Download
Sports

H. B. Beal Secondary School

Download
Sports

Ingersoll District Collegiate Institute

Download
Sports

London South Collegiate Institute

Download
Sports

Parkside Collegiate Institute

Download
Sports

Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School

Download
Sports

Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School

Download
Sports Woodstock Collegiate Institute Download
 Transportation

Student working on a car engineThe SHSM–Transportation provides students with a strong foundation for a wide variety of careers in the transportation sector, from those focusing on the service, repair, and modification of vehicles and vehicle systems to those related to the organization and management of transportation services and mass-transit systems. The SHSM–Transportation enables students to build a foundation of sector-focused knowledge and skills before graduating and entering apprenticeship training, college, university, or an entry-level position in the workplace.

Sector

School

Brochure
Transportation Arthur Voaden Secondary School Download
Transportation

Glencoe District High School

Download
Transportation

Glendale High School

Download
Transportation

Ingersoll District Collegiate Institute

Download
Transportation

Montcalm Secondary School

Download
Transportation

North Middlesex District High School

Download
Transportation

Parkside Collegiate Institute

Download
Transportation

Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School

Download 
Transportation

Westminster Secondary School

Download 


Specialist High Skills Major Logo

 

5 SHSM Program Common Components

Each Specialist High Skills Major consists of five required components:

  • Bundle of Gr. 11 & 12 Courses
  • Certifications
  • Reach Ahead Opportunities
  • Cooperative Education
  • Sector Specific Partnered Experiences in Math, Coding or ICE (Innovation, Creativity & Entrepreneurship)

Schools and Offered Programs 

 A. B. Lucas Secondary School

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
 Business David Dodge d.dodge@tvdsb.ca 
 Construction Kyle Macedo kyle.macedo@tvdsb.ca
 Sports Patrick Barnett, Andrea Hansen

p.barnett@tvdsb.ca   

a.hansen@tvdsb.ca 

 Arthur Voaden Secondary School

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
 Arts & Culture  Maria Martinez-Harild, Charlene Saini

 m.martinez@tvdsb.ca

 Construction  Joe Hestera  j.hestera@tvdsb.ca 
 Health & Wellness  Heather Smith-Hudson  h.smith-hudson@tvdsb.ca 
 Hospitality & Tourism  Jennifer Goold  j.goold@tvdsb.ca 
 Transportation  David Tenhor  d.tenhor@tvdsb.ca 
 Central Elgin Collegiate Institute

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
 Business  Jillyne Nabrotzky  jillyne.nabrotzky@tvdsb.ca 
 Health and Wellness  Tonya Rumas t.rumas@tvdsb.ca
 Central Secondary School

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
 Health & Wellness  Julie Nye  j.nye@tvdsb.ca 
 Clarke Road Secondary School

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
Arts & Culture  Sherry Collins sherry.collins@tvdsb.ca
Health & Wellness  Merlin Melchers  m.melchers@tvdsb.ca 
Hospitality & Tourism  Rob Howland, Sean McNamara

r.howland@tvdsb.ca

s.mcnamara@tvdsb.ca 

Non-Profit, Education, and Child Care  Robert Gillespie, Alicia Cheshire

r.gillespie@tvdsb.ca

Manufacturing  Pete Clubb, Brad McAulay

p.clubb@tvdsb.ca

 College Avenue Secondary School

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
Agriculture  Jack Verrips j.verrips@tvdsb.ca 
Arts & Culture  Shelley Corriveau s.corriveau@tvdsb.ca 
Construction  Rob Van Dasler r.vandasler@tvdsb.ca 
Hospitality & Tourism  Marc Gauvin m.gauvin@tvdsb.ca
Manufacturing   Jason Campbell j.campbell@tvdsb.ca

 

 East Elgin Secondary School

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
 Environment Stacey Suffel s.suffel@tvdsb.ca 
 Health & Wellness Allison Haldenby, Crystal Melosferrazza a.haldenby@tvdsb.ca
c.melosferrazza@tvdsb.ca
 Manufacturing Craig Suffel c.suffel@tvdsb.ca 
 Construction Mark McCallum m.mccallum@tvdsb.ca
 Glencoe District High School

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
 Construction Brennen Hepburn b.hepburn@tvdsb.ca 
 Transportation Jim Rops j.rops@tvdsb.ca 
 Health and Wellness Lauren Allen lauren.allen@tvdsb.ca
 Glendale High School

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
Transportation  Chuck Peterson c.peterson@tvdsb.ca 
Construction  Tanya Empson t.empson@tvdsb.ca
 H.B. Beal Secondary School

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
 Arts & Culture Susan Smith, Marni Wolfe s.smith7@tvdsb.ca
m.wolfe@tvdsb.ca 
 Business Jeff Bailey j.bailey@tvdsb.ca  
 Information & Communication Peter Liston p.liston@tvdsb.ca 
 Manufacturing Scott Telfer s.telfer@tvdsb.ca 
 Sports Mike Hegarty, Theresa Harthill m.hegarty@tvdsb.ca
t.harthill@tvdsb.ca 
 Construction Adriano Monopoli a.monopoli@tvdsb.ca
 Huron Park Secondary School

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
 Health & Wellness  Monique Telfer m.telfer@tvdsb.ca 
 Manufacturing  Henry Letkeman  h.letkeman@tvdsb.ca 
 Non-Profit, Education, and Child Care  Sara Stephenson, Rob Dowsett s.stephenson@tvdsb.ca, r.dowsett@tvdsb.ca
 Ingersoll District Collegiate Institute

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
Construction  Jonathan Postma j.postma@tvdsb.ca 
Manufacturing  Jamie Dutka j.dutka@tvdsb.ca 
Sports  Tila Cassone t.cassone@tvdsb.ca
Transportation  Gord Smith gord.smith@tvdsb.ca
Non-Profit, Education, and Child Care  Maggie Kolasiewicz-Carter m.kolasiewiczcarter@tvdsb.ca
 London Central Secondary School

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
 Health & Wellness  Julie Nye  
 London South Collegiate Institute

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
 Sports  Justin Fish j.fish@tvdsb.ca 
 Arts & Culture  Jen Porawski, Candace Marzano, Sarah Hoy j.porawski@tvdsb.ca
 Lord Dorchester Secondary School

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
 Arts & Culture  James Callowhill, Michelle Murphy j.callowhill@tvdsb.ca
michelle.murphy@tvdsb.ca 
 Construction  Paul Dawson paul.dawson@tvdsb.ca
 Health & Wellness  Andrew Dager, Nigel Dalton

a.dager@tvdsb.ca
n.dalton@tvdsb.ca
  

 Medway High School

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
 Arts & Culture Glenn Waugh g.waugh@tvdsb.ca 
 Montcalm Secondary School

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
 Aviation Nathan From n.from@tvdsb.ca
 Business Keith Crawford k.crawford@tvdsb.ca 
 Hospitality & Tourism Deb Murray deborah.murray@tvdsb.ca 
 Transportation Nathan From    n.from@tvdsb.ca 
 Health and Wellness Jane Rous, Sandra Briars j.rous@tvdsb.ca
 North Middlesex District High School

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
 Agriculture  Darryl Timmermans d.timmermans@tvdsb.ca 
 Transportation  Darryl Timmermans d.timmermans@tvdsb.ca 
 Oakridge Secondary School

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
 Business  Austin Scarpelli  a.scarpelli@tvdsb.ca 
 Health & Wellness  Chelsie Free  c.free@tvdsb.ca 
 Parkside Collegiate Institute

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
 Arts & Culture  Mary Cameron m.cameron@tvdsb.ca 
 Construction  Gerald Hikele g.hikele@tvdsb.ca 
 Horticulture  Theo Schelhaas t.schelhass@tvdsb.ca 
 Manufacturing  Ken Vannatter, Martin Naylor k.vannatter@tvdsb.ca
m.naylor@tvdsb.ca    
 Sports  Jamie Fife j.fife@tvdsb.ca 
 Transportation  Derrick Raymond-Prior  d.raymondprior@tvdsb.ca
 Saunders Secondary School

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
Arts & Culture Amanda Bonvanie, Joyce Franklin a.bonvenie@tvdsb.ca
j.franklin@tvdsb.ca
Construction Keith Neal k.neal@tvdsb.ca 
Health & Wellness Rosemarie Sudicky, Kate Quinlan katherine.quinlan@tvdsb.ca
Hospitality & Tourism David Rosen, Emily Snively d.rosen@tvdsb.ca 
scott.newmann@tvdsb.ca 
Manufacturing Aron Sudicky a.sudicky@tvdsb.ca 
 Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
 Business Don Thody  d.thody@tvdsb.ca 
 Construction Maurice Sheehan  m.sheehan@tvdsb.ca 
 Sports Mike Bates, Todd MacKay   m.bates@tvdsb.ca 
 Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
 Construction, Manufacturing Stephen Miron s.miron@tvdsb.ca
 Sports Valerie Kelley, Erica Flynn v.kelley@tvdsb.ca
e.flynn@tvdsb.ca 

 Strathroy District Collegiate Institute

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
 Arts & Culture Jenny Needham j.needham@tvdsb.ca 
 Environment Daniel Kajan  d.kajan@tvdsb.ca
 Hospitality & Tourism Alan James alan.james@tvdsb.ca 
 Manufacturing Todd Pires t.pires@tvdsb.ca 
 Justice, Community Safety, and Emergency Services Jason Hatch j.hatch@tvdsb.ca
 West Elgin Secondary School

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
 Agriculture  Kim Rowsom k.rowsom@tvdsb.ca
 Environment  Mike VanDyk  m.vandyk@tvdsb.ca
   Kimberly Rowsom, Natalie Gillis k.rowsom@tvdsb.ca
 Westminster Secondary School

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
 Arts & Culture Reece Cantelon r.cantelon@tvdsb.ca 
 Health & Wellness Craig Dixon  craig.dixon@tvdsb.ca 
 Information & Communication Terry Williams, Dereyk Goodwin t.williams@tvdsb.ca, dereyk.goodwin@tvdsb.ca 
 Transportation Greg Bain g.bain@tvdsb.ca
 Woodstock Collegiate Institute

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
 Arts & Culture  Sue Stevens s.stevens@tvdsb.ca 
 Information & Communication  Scott MacIntosh s.macintosh@tvdsb.ca
 Sports  Martha Trepanier m.trepanier@tvdsb.ca 


Contact

For more information, contact the SHSM program coordinator Laura Briscoe l.briscoe@tvdsb.ca  

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