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 

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

shsm-agriculture-tvdsb

The 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

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

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 London South 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 student sitting in class

The 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

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 H. B. Beal Secondary School Download
Construction

College Avenue Secondary School

Download
Construction

East Elgin Secondary School

Download

Construction

Glendale High 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 

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

Three students in a health and wellness classroom

The 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

Central Elgin Collegiate Institute

Download
Health and Wellness

Clarke Road Secondary School

Download
Health and Wellness

East Elgin Secondary School

Download
Health and Wellness

Glencoe District High 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 Montcalm Secondary School Download
Health and Wellness

Oakridge Secondary School

Download
Health and Wellness

Saunders Secondary School

Download
Health and Wellness

Westminster Secondary School

Download
Health and Wellness

Woodstock Collegiate Institute

Download

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

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

Clarke Road Secondary School

Download
Hospitality and Tourism

College Avenue Secondary School

Download
Hospitality and Tourism

Saunders Secondary School

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 West Elgin Secondary School Download
Information and Communications Technology Westminster Secondary School Download
Information and Communications Technology Woodstock Collegiate Institute Download

justice shsm

The 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 shsm

The 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 Clarke Road Secondary School Download
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

A Student lifting weights in a gym

The 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

Student working on a car engine

The 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

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

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 

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 

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
 Business  Jillyne Nabrotzky  jillyne.nabrotzky@tvdsb.ca 
 Construction  Joe Hestra j.hestera@tvdsb.ca
 Health and Wellness  Tonya Rumas t.rumas@tvdsb.ca

Sector 

SHSM Lead

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

 Rob Howland

 Shaune McNamara 

r.howland@tvdsb.ca

s.mcnamara@tvdsb.ca 

Manufacturing

 Paul Van Hooydonk

 Brad McAulay

p.vanhooydonk@tvdsb.ca

b.mcaulay@tvdsb.ca

Non-Profit, Education, and Child Care

Alicia Cheshire 

a.cheshire@tvdsb.ca

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
Agriculture  Jack Verrips j.verrips@tvdsb.ca 
Arts & Culture
Focus Area: Hairstyling & Aesthetics

 Bobby Cowan 

 Tracey James

bobby.cowan@tvdsb.ca

tracey.james@tvdsb.ca

Construction

 Rob Van Dasler

r.vandasler@tvdsb.ca 
Hospitality & Tourism  Marc Gauvin m.gauvin@tvdsb.ca
Manufacturing 

 Jason Campbell

 Bryston Connelly

 Nathan Mol

j.campbell@tvdsb.ca

b.connelly@tvdsb.ca

n.mol@tvdsb.ca

 

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
 Construction Mark McCallum m.mccallum@tvdsb.ca
 Environment

Adam Bengen

Stacey Suffel

a.bengen@tvdsb.ca

s.suffel@tvdsb.ca 

 Health & Wellness
 Focus Area: Hairstyling & Aesthetics

Rebecca Elliott

Crystal Melosferrazza

rebecca.elliott@tvdsb.ca

c.melosferrazza@tvdsb.ca

 Manufacturing Craig Suffel c.suffel@tvdsb.ca 

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
 Construction Jonathan Periard j.periard@tvdsb.ca
 Transportation Jim Rops j.rops@tvdsb.ca 
 Health and Wellness Lauren Allen lauren.allen@tvdsb.ca

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
Transportation  Chuck Peterson c.peterson@tvdsb.ca 
Construction  Tanya Empson t.empson@tvdsb.ca

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
 Arts & Culture Susan Smith, Marni Wolfe, Ashley Thompson, Jennifer Johnston
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

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

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
Construction Mike Pelton 
Jonathan Postma
m.pelton@tvdsb.ca 
j.postma@tvdsb.ca 
Manufacturing  Adam Vincent adam.vincent@tvdsb.ca
Non-Profit, Education, and Child Care Maggie Kolasiewicz-Carter
Jennifer Rowe
m.kolasiewiczcarter@tvdsb.ca
j.rowe@tvdsb.ca 
Sports Tila Cassone
Steve Pasztor
t.cassone@tvdsb.ca
s.pasztor@tvdsb.ca 
Transportation Brian Nagle 
Gord Smith
b.nagle@tvdsb.ca 
gord.smith@tvdsb.ca

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
 Health & Wellness  Sarah Treesh  s.treesh@tvdsb.ca

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
 Arts & Culture Jen Porawski j.porawski@tvdsb.ca
 Sports Justin Fish j.fish@tvdsb.ca 

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 

Arts & Culture

Focus Area: Music, Visual Art, Drama

James Callowhill j.callowhill@tvdsb.ca
Construction Paul Dawson paul.dawson@tvdsb.ca
Health & Wellness Nigelle Dalton

n.dalton@tvdsb.ca  

Information & Communication Brent Bissell

b.bissell@tvdsb.ca 

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 

Arts & Culture

Focus Area: Music and Visual Art

Glenn Waugh g.waugh@tvdsb.ca 
Manufacturing Dave Hoefnagels d.hoefnagels@tvdsb.ca 

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
 Aviation Nathan From n.from@tvdsb.ca
 Business Keith Crawford k.crawford@tvdsb.ca 
 Transportation Kyle Graat
Joseph Young
kyle.graat@tvdsb.ca 
joseph.young@tvdsb.ca 
 Health and Wellness Jane Rous j.rous@tvdsb.ca

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
 Agriculture  Darryl Timmermans d.timmermans@tvdsb.ca 
 Construction  Jonathan Good j.good@tvdsb.ca 
 Transportation  Darryl Timmermans d.timmermans@tvdsb.ca 

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
 Business Austin Scarpelli a.scarpelli@tvdsb.ca 
 Health & Wellness Jason Carrelas 
Derek Naisbitt
j.carrelas@tvdsb.ca  
d.naisbitt@tvdsb.ca 

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 

 Arts & Culture

Focus Area: Visual Arts, Hair & Aesthetics

 Mary Cameron 
 Maria Martinez-Harild
 Charlene Saini
m.cameron@tvdsb.ca 
m.martinez@tvdsb.ca 
c.saini@tvdsb.ca 
 Construction  Graham Ansell 
 Gerald Hikele
g.ansell@tvdsb.ca 
g.hikele@tvdsb.ca 
 Health & Wellness  Heather Smith-Hudson h.smith-hudson@tvdsb.ca 
 Horticulture  Theo Schelhaas t.schelhass@tvdsb.ca 
 Manufacturing  Paul Cumberland 
 Martin Naylor
 Ken Vannatter
p.cumberland@tvdsb.ca 
m.naylor@tvdsb.ca 
k.vannatter@tvdsb.ca
 Sports  Lori Congdon 
James Fife
l.congdon@tvdsb.ca 
j.fife@tvdsb.ca 
 Transportation  Brydon Ensing brydon.ensing@tvdsb.ca

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 

Arts & Culture

Focus Area: Drama/Musical Theatre, Dance, Hair & Aesthetics, Communication Technology and Visual Arts

Richard Brouwer 
Jenna Roy
r.brouwer@tvdsb.ca 
j.roy@tvdsb.ca 
Construction Keith Neal k.neal@tvdsb.ca 
Health & Wellness

Rosemarie Sudicky 
Kate Quinlan

r.sudicky@tvdsb.ca 
katherine.quinlan@tvdsb.ca
Hospitality & Tourism Scott Newman
David Rosen
scott.newman@tvdsb.ca 
d.rosen@tvdsb.ca 
Manufacturing Aron Sudicky a.sudicky@tvdsb.ca 

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
 Business Don Thody  d.thody@tvdsb.ca 
 Construction Maurice Sheehan  m.sheehan@tvdsb.ca 
 Sports Mike Bates  m.bates@tvdsb.ca 

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
 Construction &
 Enhanced Construction Program (ECP)
Keith Sinke
Matt Vine
k.sinke@tvdsb.ca
m.vine@tvdsb.ca 
 Manufacturing Stephen Miron s.miron@tvdsb.ca
 Sports Christy Comly
Bill Thomson
c.comly@tvdsb.ca 
b.thomson@tvdsb.ca
Transportation Keenan Kersey k.kersey@tvdsb.ca 

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
 Arts & Culture Julie-Anna Driessen
Jenny Needham
j.driessen@tvdsb.ca 
j.needham@tvdsb.ca 
 Environment Daniel Kajan
Diana MacKenzie
d.kajan@tvdsb.ca
d.mackenzie@tvdsb.ca 
 Justice, Community Safety, and Emergency Services Jason Hatch j.hatch@tvdsb.ca
 Manufacturing Derek Freer d.freer@tvdsb.ca 

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 
 Agriculture Natlie Gillis 
Kimberly Rowsom
n.gillis@tvdsb.ca 
k.rowsom@tvdsb.ca
 Environment Emily Murray 
Kimberly Rowsom
emily.murray@tvdsb.ca
k.rowsom@tvdsb.ca
 Information & Communication Natalie Gillis n.gillis@tvdsb.ca
 Manufacturing Jamie Dutka j.dutka@tvdsb.ca 
 Non-Profit, Education, and Child Care Evan Ross
Kimberly Rowsom
e.ross@tvdsb.ca
k.rowsom@tvdsb.ca

 

Sector 

SHSM Lead

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

Sector 

SHSM Lead

Contact 

Arts & Culture

Focus Area: Visual Arts, Music, Musical Theatre, and Drama

Sarah Baigent 
Sue Stevens
s.baigent@tvdsb.ca 
s.stevens@tvdsb.ca 
Health and Wellness Brittani Commisso
Aria Marano
Alyson Siderius
b.commisso@tvdsb.ca 
a.marano@tvdsb.ca
alyson.siderius@tvdsb.ca
Information & Communication Scott MacIntosh s.macintosh@tvdsb.ca 
Non-Profit, Education, and Child Care Candice Folkema
Alex Mara
c.folkema@tvdsb.ca 
alexandra.mara@tvdsb.ca 
Sports Jason Poole
Martha Trepanier
jason.poole@tvdsb.ca
m.trepanier@tvdsb.ca