Vienna Lessard loves animals and wants to help people. A Grade 12 student at Collège Notre-Dame in Sudbury, Lessard is heavily involved in her school’s many different clubs and initiatives.
Currently she is a member of the Indigenous Club, the Mental Health Committee, Student Radio, the Leadership Course and the Flag Football team, and serves as president of the EcoSchool Club. Outside of school, she was previously a member of the Junction Creek Youth Council.
Before COVID, a young Lessard started a pet-sitting business, and in the five-odd years since has maintained a decent clientele. It’s a serious business — walking, feeding, cleaning, playing with pets, administering medication and even doing overnight calls. Through this experience, Lessard acquired her first job at Pet Valu.
An interest in science led to an honourable mention for her research regarding a sustainable fertilizer at the Sudbury Regional Science Fair while she was still in Grade 10. By Grade 11, she found herself a co-operative education student at Science North, after which she was hired to work as a blue coat, doing science demonstrations on the third floor for animal care, a position she continues to hold.
“I view the Earth as a gift,” Vienna said. “I’m inspired to be more eco-conscious and encourage this in others. Whether or not one has spiritual belief, it is undoubtedly true that the Earth has provided for all living creatures over an extraordinary amount of time, and since humans have come into the picture, we have done nothing but use and abuse nature and its beauty.
“I feel it’s my responsibility to take care of the Earth and its creatures while also teaching others how to do the same. It’s part of the reason I became a bluecoat at Science North.”
Over the past two Christmases, Lessard, with Collège Notre-Dame, spearheaded, organized and co-ordinated donation drives for struggling Indigenous families in Sudbury.
“The first year we did shoe boxes with gifts, clothing, and toiletries inside for all different age groups and genders,” said Vienna. “This past Christmas, we received lists of individuals and families with their specific needs and created gift boxes and bags with their most requested items. I co-ordinated with the Indigenous and EcoSchool Club to make this happen as well as the N’Swakamok Native Friendship Centre for the distribution of these gifts.”
Volunteerism seems to come naturally to Vienna. In addition to her considerable extracurricular activities, she has volunteered with the Elgin Street Mission.
“I feel a sense of accomplishment having helped the members of my community that are so often forgotten or ignored,” she said. “I really got the sense that they appreciated having a hot meal and people to talk to without being judged. I felt happy to have been able to provide such a service to those most deserving.”
But Vienna feels her greatest accomplishment has been mentoring younger students.
“Every flag football season, I take some of the new players under my wing and teach them the basics of the game. I offer them support with their academic and personal lives.”
This has led her to win two awards for Team Spirit (2021-2022) and Offensive Leadership (2022- 2023).
“Several of the younger members of various clubs have all dubbed me the ‘Mom Friend’ as I care for and interact with them outside of a purely scholastic setting,” Vienna said. “Having the opportunity to be a pillar of support for these kids as they grow has been an enlightening experience and has led me to want to be for them what I wished someone else had been for me when I was starting high school.
“I am beyond proud of them and their abilities, and I cannot wait to see them grow and thrive in life, as I know they will.”
Lessard credits her home life for her positive outlook.
“My parents are both amazing people who have shaped me in many different ways. My mom is very emotionally intelligent and helped me from a young age to be empathetic toward others’ needs and learn how to read people. She helped me build mental boundaries and enforce them while also still being kind and understanding to others,” she said.
“My dad works tirelessly at multiple side hustles and part-time gigs on top of his full-time employment at Cambrian College to help my little sister and I with post-secondary funding. He taught me the importance of self-reliance and a good work ethic, and the ability to provide for myself without having to rely on others.
“Both of them have impacted me and made me into the independent, driven person I am right now, while also leaving me room to grow and form my own opinions and ideas as I discover life.”
Asked about her plans for the future, Lessard mentions she will be attending the University of Guelph in the fall, and intends upon obtaining a bachelor of science with a major in wildlife biology and conservation before pursuing a master’s and possibly a PhD in a similar field, or a doctorate of veterinary medicine.
“I want to work in wildlife research and rehabilitation for the first while to gain experience across a large field. If you’ve ever watched those documentaries where a group of biologists go out and tag or track certain populations while doing assessments, that’s my goal,” Vienna said. “I want to also try my hand at animal care where I can work hands-on with injured or orphaned wildlife. After I’ve gained ample experience — ten or so years — I plan on shifting my focus to education and awareness, bringing to light my findings and discovering new ways to transmit the information in a way all different age groups can understand. My goal is to one day inspire others to find their calling with nature and animals.”
Vienna Lessard’s words of inspiration
“I believe in the importance of second chances. We shouldn’t condemn others for their mistakes or downfalls, instead, we should allow them to not only redeem themselves, but to go beyond and help others. The overall lesson is help people find ways to be forgiven, instead of never letting them try in the first place.”
James Stewart is a writer in North Bay. Inspire is made possible by our Community Leaders Program.