Photo credit: Don SimpsonMarc Lalonde an inspiration for young running enthusiasts
Marc Lalonde an inspiration for young running enthusiasts In a small French community in Eastern Ontario, auto mechanics teacher Marc Lalonde has been motivating his students in innovative and creative ways since 2005 at the École Secondaire Catholique de Plantagenet. Marc, trained in auto mechanics, began his career at his brother-in-law Alain Picard Garage, in Hawkesbury, Ontario. Later, with the help of his brother-in-law, Marc built his first race car and made his debut at his local track in Marelan, Quebec. A few years later, he was attracted to a full-time program in auto mechanics at La Cité collégiale in Hawkesbury. So Marc signed up for this program and went ahead. After graduation, the College approached Marc to see if he would be interested in sharing his knowledge in the automotive class of the Cité collégiale. Later, it was at the Catholic Secondary School of Plantagenet that he continued his teaching and at the same time discovered a real passion by transmitting his educational knowledge and his skills in automobile mechanics. 
Photo credit: Don SimpsonIn 2005 at this same school, Marc noticed that some students were losing interest and unfortunately even thinking about dropping their classes.
Over the spring and summer, Marc Lalonde reflects on how he could change things in a way that encourages students to continue their studies by encouraging them to learn in a more dynamic way. In previous years, Marc's cousin Daniel Leduc had allowed students to service his race car at school. This was very popular with many students. It was then that his passion for racing took shape in his mind. He envisioned a project for the students to design and build a racing car in the school's automotive room. Once the car was built, students could drive it around the local Cornwall Speedway. The project was taking shape. In the fall of 2005, with the support of the school board and school principal, Marc began inviting students of all grades and genders to help design and build a racing vehicle. It was obvious from the first weeks that this project was the spark needed to ignite the students' enthusiasm and motivation to learn. The project was therefore underway, but sponsors and a fundraising campaign were essential for the smooth running of the project. Josée Lalonde, Marc's wife, also working at the school, took responsibility for this project and became a team promoter and set up a fundraiser. Marc began inviting students of all grades and genders to help design and build a racing vehicle. It was obvious from the first weeks that this project was the spark needed to ignite the students' enthusiasm and motivation to learn. The project was therefore underway, but sponsors and a fundraising campaign were essential for the smooth running of the project. Josée Lalonde, Marc's wife, also working at the school, took responsibility for this project and became a team promoter and set up a fundraiser. Marc began inviting students of all grades and genders to help design and build a racing vehicle. It was obvious from the first weeks that this project was the spark needed to ignite the students' enthusiasm and motivation to learn. The project was therefore underway, but sponsors and a fundraising campaign were essential for the smooth running of the project. Josée Lalonde, Marc's wife, also working at the school, took responsibility for this project and became a team promoter and set up a fundraiser. spark needed to ignite students' enthusiasm and motivation to learn. The project was therefore underway, but sponsors and a fundraising campaign were essential for the smooth running of the project. Josée Lalonde, Marc's wife, also working at the school, took responsibility for this project and became the team's promoter and set up a fundraiser. spark needed to ignite students' enthusiasm and motivation to learn. The project was therefore underway, but sponsors and a fundraising campaign were essential for the smooth running of the project. Josée Lalonde, Marc's wife, also working at the school, took responsibility for this project and became the team's promoter and set up a fundraiser.
Photo credit: Don SimpsonIn the spring of 2006, the coed team and the Lalondes made their debut in a 1980 Olds-Cutlass painted hot red, wearing the number 8 at Cornwall Speedway. This year was crowned with great success, as Marc the driver, and the members of the student team won Rookie of the Year in the Semi-Pro class. This continued by winning the Semi-Pro Track Championships in 2007 and 2008 at Cornwall Speedway. It was quite an achievement for Marc and the students in such a short time. Twelve years later, Marc is still pursuing the race project, inspiring students. The team has since moved to the Pro Stock class - a more expensive and competitive class. Team Principal Josée and Marc were successful in securing major sponsors such as Lucas Oil and Benson Auto Parts, 
Photo credit: Don SimpsonThe program was a great success. Marc has received numerous awards for his dedication and efforts to help students achieve their goals. He received the Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence. Thanks to Marc's vision for the race project, many of his students to date have not only completed their schooling, but also gone on to further their careers. His former students still come from time to time to help him or simply to visit him, accompanied by their families so that they can realize what made them successful. 
Photo credit: Don Simpson
Photo credit: Don SimpsonIn 2005 at this same school, Marc noticed that some students were losing interest and unfortunately even thinking about dropping their classes.Over the spring and summer, Marc Lalonde reflects on how he could change things in a way that encourages students to continue their studies by encouraging them to learn in a more dynamic way. In previous years, Marc's cousin Daniel Leduc had allowed students to service his race car at school. This was very popular with many students. It was then that his passion for racing took shape in his mind. He envisioned a project for the students to design and build a racing car in the school's automotive room. Once the car was built, students could drive it around the local Cornwall Speedway. The project was taking shape. In the fall of 2005, with the support of the school board and school principal, Marc began inviting students of all grades and genders to help design and build a racing vehicle. It was obvious from the first weeks that this project was the spark needed to ignite the students' enthusiasm and motivation to learn. The project was therefore underway, but sponsors and a fundraising campaign were essential for the smooth running of the project. Josée Lalonde, Marc's wife, also working at the school, took responsibility for this project and became a team promoter and set up a fundraiser. Marc began inviting students of all grades and genders to help design and build a racing vehicle. It was obvious from the first weeks that this project was the spark needed to ignite the students' enthusiasm and motivation to learn. The project was therefore underway, but sponsors and a fundraising campaign were essential for the smooth running of the project. Josée Lalonde, Marc's wife, also working at the school, took responsibility for this project and became a team promoter and set up a fundraiser. Marc began inviting students of all grades and genders to help design and build a racing vehicle. It was obvious from the first weeks that this project was the spark needed to ignite the students' enthusiasm and motivation to learn. The project was therefore underway, but sponsors and a fundraising campaign were essential for the smooth running of the project. Josée Lalonde, Marc's wife, also working at the school, took responsibility for this project and became a team promoter and set up a fundraiser. spark needed to ignite students' enthusiasm and motivation to learn. The project was therefore underway, but sponsors and a fundraising campaign were essential for the smooth running of the project. Josée Lalonde, Marc's wife, also working at the school, took responsibility for this project and became the team's promoter and set up a fundraiser. spark needed to ignite students' enthusiasm and motivation to learn. The project was therefore underway, but sponsors and a fundraising campaign were essential for the smooth running of the project. Josée Lalonde, Marc's wife, also working at the school, took responsibility for this project and became the team's promoter and set up a fundraiser.
Photo credit: Don SimpsonIn the spring of 2006, the coed team and the Lalondes made their debut in a 1980 Olds-Cutlass painted hot red, wearing the number 8 at Cornwall Speedway. This year was crowned with great success, as Marc the driver, and the members of the student team won Rookie of the Year in the Semi-Pro class. This continued by winning the Semi-Pro Track Championships in 2007 and 2008 at Cornwall Speedway. It was quite an achievement for Marc and the students in such a short time. Twelve years later, Marc is still pursuing the race project, inspiring students. The team has since moved to the Pro Stock class - a more expensive and competitive class. Team Principal Josée and Marc were successful in securing major sponsors such as Lucas Oil and Benson Auto Parts, Photo credit: Don SimpsonThe program was a great success. Marc has received numerous awards for his dedication and efforts to help students achieve their goals. He received the Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence. Thanks to Marc's vision for the race project, many of his students to date have not only completed their schooling, but also gone on to further their careers. His former students still come from time to time to help him or simply to visit him, accompanied by their families so that they can realize what made them successful. Photo credit: Don Simpson
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