Lakehead Public Schools Introduces New Esports League

Thunder Bay’s public school board is introducing high school students to the world of competitive gaming through its newly launched esports league.

The Lakehead Public Schools (LPS) Esports League was officially announced on Wednesday. Currently, the league operates at Westgate CVI, Superior CVI, and Hammarskjold High School, where students can join esports clubs that meet twice a week. Sherri-Lynne Pharand, the board’s director of education, expressed hopes that the league will expand to include competitions between schools both within and beyond Thunder Bay.

“Like any team activity, students learn valuable teamwork, collaboration, and goal-setting skills,” said Pharand. “But with esports, there’s also a strong connection to the curriculum. It ties into science, technology, coding, and computer science.”

Pharand also highlighted the league’s goal of fostering student engagement and helping them feel connected to the school community while exploring potential future pathways in technology.

Currently, the league features games such as Rocket League, Roblox, and Minecraft, but the selection is expected to grow. Kel Cullis, chair of technologies education at Superior CVI, said game offerings will be shaped by student interest.

“It’s really driven by what the students want to do,” Cullis explained. “Once they express interest in certain games, we bring it forward to the board for approval.”

The league received a major boost from local telecommunications provider Tbaytel, which contributed $30,000 to help purchase gaming PCs and monitors.

“Tbaytel and Lakehead Public Schools have been long-time partners,” said Amy Meunier, Tbaytel’s director of marketing and communication. “Esports was a natural fit, given the reliance on broadband infrastructure, which we’ve been helping to provide for years.”

The league will be evaluated based on student participation, with plans to further expand and improve based on feedback.

Connor Singleton, a Grade 10 student at Superior CVI, said he’s enjoyed the experience so far.

“Everyone’s been a great sport,” Singleton said. “Some are better than others, but it’s been a lot of fun.”