BUSINESS & CAREER STUDIES

WELCOME!

At David & Mary Thomson Collegiate Institute, we empower students to become innovative leaders and successful entrepreneurs. Our Business & Careers department is committed to providing you with the knowledge and skills to thrive in today's competitive world. Explore our programs, discover exciting career paths, and unlock your full potential.

Let's build your future together!

D&MT C.I. DECA Students Triumph at Regionals!

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Toronto, ON – November 19, 2025 – We are thrilled to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our DECA chapter following the recent Regional Competition! The hard work, dedication, and entrepreneurial spirit of our students were on full display, earning our chapter remarkable success.

A massive congratulations to the following students who have qualified to represent David & Mary Thomson C.I. at the upcoming DECA Provincial Competition! We wish them the very best of luck as they prepare for the next level of competition.

Kalpana Acharya
Ishana Mayreddy
Yasir Mandalawi
Afrah Rahman
Zoha Aleem
Zakera Shaikh
Sai Swaran Gunda
Dhakshesh Sayee Kannan

In addition to our Provincial Qualifiers, we would like to recognize all students who achieved exceptional performance and placed among the top finalists in their competitive categories at the Regional level:

Afrah Rahman, who achieved Top 10 Exam and Top 10 Overall in the Restaurant & Food Service Management Series
Zoha Aleem and Zakera Shaikh, who achieved Top 10 Role-Play in Sports & Entertainment Marketing Team Decision-Making Series
Parvati Nair, who achieved Top 10 Role-Play in Principles of Finance, scoring a whopping 100%.

Congratulations to all DECA delegates! Your commitment to excellence is a source of immense pride for our school community.

Future Business Leaders Take Over TMU TRSM

Toronto, ON – November 13, 2025 – International Business (BBB4M) and Retail and Service Marketing (BMX3E) students traded the classroom for the downtown core, embarking on a dynamic field trip to the Ted Rogers School of Management (TRSM) at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU).

Sixty students successfully navigated the complex TTC route, demonstrating exceptional organizational skills and professionalism—a huge thank you to our 10 dedicated student Group Leaders who managed logistics and ensured a seamless experience!

The trip was designed to connect high school theory directly to high-level university application.

Students were graciously hosted by the TRSM faculty, including Dr. Donna Smith, for a specialized Retail Strategy session. This session centered on the concept of the Pop-Up Shop—a modern example of low-risk Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and market testing. Students analyzed the Pop-Up's strategy, considering how it minimizes risk while maximizing brand exposure.

The learning continued at the bustling Toronto Eaton Centre. Students completed a comparative analysis, contrasting the temporary Pop-Up with large, established Multinational Corporations (MNCs) like Zara and Nike. This allowed them to observe firsthand the strategies behind product standardization versus cultural adaptation in global retail.

A key highlight of the day was the unparalleled opportunity for our students to network with TMU faculty and gain crucial insights into their future careers.

A select group met with the Finance department for an interactive lecture by Professor Daniel Tut and a Q&A session with Professor Sergiy Rakhmayil. They discussed career preparedness, industry technology, and the future of financial analysis.

The entire group connected with the TRSM Recruitment and Community Outreach team (Celeste Saddler and Katherine Hollis) to learn about admission pathways and explore programs like Human Resources Management.

This direct interaction provided our students with practical answers regarding the real-world business environment and the specific skills required to lead in the next 5–10 years.

Toronto, ON – October 28, 2025 – Future Finance Leaders - BlackRock Visit Inspires Students

Our students recently took part in a highly successful Industry Insight Day at the Toronto offices of BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, through our partnership with Rock The Street, Wall Street (RTSWS).

The RTSWS mission is to close the gender gap in finance by providing high school girls with real-world financial education. This event achieved exactly that, equipping our young women with vital, practical knowledge straight from industry experts.

Students received a masterclass focusing on core financial concepts essential to Canadian investors:

Demystifying Canadian investment vehicles like TFSAs, RRSPs, and RESPs.
Learning about the power of compound interest and saving to purchase assets like ETFs and Government Bonds.
Discussing formal entry points into the finance industry.

The day was a powerful source of inspiration, leaving students with a clear, actionable flight plan for their financial futures.

Thank you to BlackRock and RTSWS for making this empowering experience possible!

Be Entrepreneurial

Toronto, ON – October 27, 2025 – Celebrating Our Grade 10 Entrepreneurs!

We are incredibly proud to celebrate our Grade 10 Business students who recently completed the Junior Achievement (JA) Be Entrepreneurial program and earned a Certificate of Achievement!

In today's challenging job market, entrepreneurs are the key to job growth. Many Canadian youth have the passion to launch their own businesses to create jobs for themselves and others. However, the skills young people need to run businesses aren't often explicitly taught in schools.

Through the JA program, our students dove deep into the world of new venture creation. They developed essential business acumen by:

Identifying target markets for new products and services.
Analyzing competitive advantages to differentiate their ideas.
Developing a comprehensive business plan and strategy from concept to execution.

A huge congratulations to all our students for embracing this challenge and taking the first step on their entrepreneurial journey! The future of innovation is in your hands.

BOH4M Students Build Leadership Skills—Literally!

Toronto, ON – October 13, 2025 – Our Business Leadership (BOH4M) students recently took on a challenge that proves leadership is not just a theory, it's an action. The Newspaper Shelter Challenge was an interactive, high-pressure activity designed to test their skills in communication, collaboration, and strategic management.

The mission was simple, but the execution was tough: Build a free-standing structure large enough for a team of four to fit in/under, using only tape and newspaper.

In this exercise, students had to apply the core management functions in real time:

Plan - Teams quickly moved from brainstorming to blueprinting, rationing materials and assigning roles.
Organize & Lead - They delegated responsibilities, managed resources, and guided the building process under a strict time limit.
Control - They continuously monitored the structure's stability, adjusted their designs, and solved problems on the fly.

The project culminated in a video submission where students reflected on their process, detailing their group dynamics, lessons learned in structural engineering, and, most importantly, how they communicated and collaborated under pressure.

We are incredibly proud of the BOH4M class for embracing this demanding task and demonstrating the innovative, problem-solving spirit required of tomorrow’s business leaders.

Building Bright Futures

Toronto, ON – May 08, 2025 – We're thrilled to announce that our Grade 10 Business and Grade 11 Personal Finance students recently participated in the Financial Literacy Competition (FLC) on May 8th, 2025!

This challenging and insightful competition, hosted by Waterloo University's School of Accounting and Finance, is designed to test students' financial knowledge and spark further learning. Our students tackled a wide range of topics, including banking, investing, economics, income management, budgeting, accounting, credit, post-secondary financing, home ownership, and fraud prevention.

The FLC is a fantastic co-curricular activity that exposes students to real-world financial concepts, helping them build essential skills for their future. We're incredibly proud of all our students who took part and demonstrated their commitment to financial literacy.

Our Students Achieve Gold and Top 10 in Provincial Financial Literacy Competition!

We are thrilled to announce the outstanding success of our students in May's Sagen™ Financial Literacy Competition!

Congratulations!

Rahannah Abdulkadir

Julianna Marini

Ehan Rahman

In a province-wide contest involving over 1100 students, several of our talented individuals achieved the prestigious Gold ranking, scoring 80% or higher. This remarkable accomplishment highlights their dedication and strong grasp of crucial financial concepts.

A huge congratulations also goes to one of our very own Grade 11 student, Ehan Rahman, who secured a spot in the Top 10 overall for their grade level! This exceptional achievement is a testament to their hard work and keen understanding of financial principles.

Our students' success underscores the importance of financial literacy education and reflects the vibrant learning environment within our school. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and the recognition they bring to our community.

Further details, including a list of student winners, will be posted on the University of Waterloo's School of Accounting and Finance website.

Join us in celebrating these incredible accomplishments!

CPA - No Limits Conference 2025

Toronto, ON – April 02, 2025 – A group of our Accounting students had the incredible opportunity to attend the CPA's No Limits Conference.

What did they discover? That the Certified Professional Accountant (CPA) designation isn't just about numbers – it's a gateway to shaping the future of business!

At No Limits, our students:

Experienced firsthand the dynamic and impactful career paths available in the world of accounting.
Learned how CPAs are empowering future business leaders across diverse industries.
Participated in workshops and presentations that highlighted the real-world applications of accounting skills.
Networked with professionals and gained valuable insights into the industry.

This conference was an eye-opening experience, showcasing the limitless possibilities that a CPA designation can unlock. Our students are now even more inspired to pursue their passions and become the business leaders of tomorrow.

Rock The Street, Wall Street Program @ BlackRock

Female-identifying students were selected to represent DMTCI in programming created by the Rock the Street, Wall Street organization. This programming consists of three sessions in BlackRock, a multinational investment company. The sessions provided students with a unique opportunity to:

Gain a deeper understanding of personal finance, investing, and the financial markets.
Connect with female financial professionals, building valuable relationships and gaining mentorship.
Network with leading financial firms, offering opportunities for internships and entry-level jobs.

More Info: Day 1 , Day 2 & Day 3

DMT CI @ TMU's IGNITE YOUR FUTURE EVENT

Toronto, ON – December 05, 2024 – DMT CI top marketing students recently attended a prestigious hospitality event hosted by the Ted Rogers School of Management. The event featured industry experts, engaging workshops, and networking opportunities. Our students gained valuable insights into the latest industry trends and developed essential skills for future success.

LEARN MORE HERE

DECA 2024/2025 @ DMT

November 2024

Regionals took place at Cedarbrae CI. The whole team did a FANTASTIC job at competing in their events. The competition was immense, but our members held their ground.

A HUGE Congratulations to DMT CI's, Serazam Shaiyan, who has made it to DECA ON Provincials.

Way to Go Serazam!

September 2024

The excitement is building as David and Mary Thomson Collegiate Institute (DMTCI) kicks off their DECA season! DECA, a leading organization for students preparing for careers in business and marketing, is offering students the opportunity to develop valuable skills and compete at local, provincial, and national levels.

Students can expect a variety of events and workshops throughout the year, including:

Competitions - Students will have the chance to compete in various business-related events, such as role-plays, written exams, and presentations.
Networking Opportunities - DECA provides students with opportunities to connect with industry professionals and build valuable relationships.
Leadership Development - Students can develop their leadership skills through various DECA programs and initiatives.

For more information about DECA at DMT, please contact Ms. Mashud at malisa.mashud@tdsb.on.ca.

New Business Courses 2024!

September 2024

We're excited to announce the launch of two new business courses for our Grade 9 and 10 students!

BEM1O: Building the Entrepreneurial Mindset

Discover your inner entrepreneur! This course will ignite your creativity and teach you the essential skills to turn your ideas into reality. Learn about taking risks, problem-solving, and financial management.

BEP2O: Launching and Leading a Business

Ready to take the next step? Dive into the world of business and learn how to manage a successful enterprise. Explore marketing, finance, human resources, and more as you develop the skills to become a future business leader.

These exciting new courses will equip our students with the knowledge and confidence to succeed in the ever-changing business world. More information available on the Ontario Ministry of Education Website.

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