Safety Surprise! Student Ambush Turns into National Win

Column | CAREERS: THE NEXT GENERATION

Jacqueline Muzichuk, Marketing Manager

There’s something unforgettable about walking into a high school classroom with balloons, a giant cheque and a camera crew—especially when the student you’re surprising has no idea they’ve just won big.

This spring, CAREERS took to the road for a series of surprise school visits across Alberta to celebrate the winners of the 2025 SafeGen Video Contest. One by one, we ambushed students who thought it was just another day at school and the reactions were priceless.

Micah Griffin accepting his first place prize

At Olds Koinonia Christian School, we interrupted class to announce that Micah Griffin had won first place for his safety video, “Maintaining Effective Communication in the Workplace.”

With his jaw on the floor and his classmates erupting in cheers, Micah accepted a $2,500 cheque and the news his video would advance to the national Focus on Safety Youth Video Contest.

Zachary Teves accepting his prize

A few weeks later, Micah brought it home, winning first place across Canada. His school also earned a $1,000 reward to keep promoting safety education.

Next up was St. Jerome’s School in Vermillion, AB where Zachary Teves was blindsided (in the best way) by our arrival. His short film on mental health in the workplace earned second place and a $1,500 prize, but it was his message about the emotional well-being of young workers that left a lasting impression on everyone in the room.

And, we showed up at Heritage School in Falher, AB with balloons and applause to surprise Adelle Levesque, who won third place and $1,000 for her engaging and educational video on kitchen safety. Her peers were just as stunned and proud as she was.

These surprise celebrations weren’t just heartwarming, they proved that when youth are equipped with the right training and opportunity, they can rise to the occasion.

These wins go far beyond prize money. They show what’s possible when students are empowered to lead with confidence and purpose. Through SafeGen, youth can now access free, accredited high school safety courses including:

• HCS3000

  Workplace Safety Systems

• HCS3010

  Workplace Safety Practices

• AGR3000

  Agriculture Safety

Adelle Levesque accepting her prize

Each course is aligned with Alberta Education standards, is WHMIS 2022 compliant and is delivered through an easy-to-use, self-marking online platform. They’re fast, accessible and essential—especially for youth entering the workforce.

And here’s where you, as an employer, come in.

If you’ve been hesitant to hire youth because of safety concerns, don’t be. CAREERS and SafeGen are here to help ensure students are trained, ready and responsible. These aren’t just summer jobs or one-off placements; they’re the first step toward building your future workforce.

Across Alberta’s North, employers are already partnering with CAREERS to bring youth into forestry, trades, energy, agriculture and healthcare. These youth are equipped with safety knowledge and eager to learn.

So, if you’re facing labour shortages or wondering how to future-proof your team, let’s talk. With SafeGen as your safety foundation, hiring youth through CAREERS can be one of the smartest moves you make.

Visit www.careersnextgen.ca, or connect with our team directly. Let’s build a safer, stronger workforce—one student at a time.