November 3, 2022

CCI Student Shaan Halaith Makes Winning Pitch to the Chief™

Cobourg, ON – As part of the Third Edition of the popular Pitch to the Chief™ competition at Venture13 on November 3rd, 2022, local high school students competed in presenting their ideas for community safety and development. Cobourg Collegiate Institute (CCI) student Shaan Halaith won the $250 top prize for his ‘Tracker Hack’ wearable device.

“People are always losing track of their kids at the beach and this is a constant issue for the Cobourg Police,” said Shaan. “Tracker Hack is a proposal to solve that problem and protect kids and families, a sort of missing child prevention device.”

Shaun was joined by three other teams from CCI who responded to the Chief’s challenge. They were:

Crosswalk Conundrum – Ciara Lennon and Claire Kerswill
The Soup Kitchen – Olivia Worth
Housing First – Cloë Simpson and Preston Hickman

Presentations were made in the Innovation Commons lecture hall at Venture13 in front of a live audience which included family members and supporters. [Click images below to view larger.]

Pitch competition winner, Shaan Halaith, shakes hands with Cobourg’s Chief of Police, Paul VandeGraaf.

Shaan Halaith presenting his “Tracker Hack” idea to the panel of judges.

CCI students pose with the judging panel, including Chief of Police, Paul VandeGraaf, Deputy Chief, Jeffrey Haskins, and Town of Cobourg’s CAO, Tracey Vaughan.

Latest Policetech News

Policetech Tested™ Badge Issued for Rubicon’s RubiREPORT

Oct 23, 2023

The V13 Policetech Accelerator, a joint initiative of the Cobourg Police Service and NCFDC, has issued the Policetech Tested™ Badge for Rubicon’s RubiREPORT. This recognition highlights the demonstrated advancement and effectiveness of RubiREPORT as a digital non-emergency reporting platform designed to augment police service efficiency.

V13 Policetech Accelerator to Attend Canadian Congress

Sep 7, 2023

The V13 Policetech Accelerator will have three booths at the event including a start-up showcase highlighting the work of accelerator clients Pegasus Aero and The Mapping Network (the latter having received $25,000 in matching, performance-based seed funding via NCFDC’s thriveFORWARD initiative in southern Ontario, with the support of FedDev Ontario and the Government of Canada).

Policetech Accelerator Launches Helium Network Pilot Project

Jul 27, 2023

Part of the Policetech Accelerator joint initiative at Venture13 (a Cobourg Police Service—NCFDC collaboration) is a Pilot Program that supports the advancement of innovation and technology-driven solutions to challenges and opportunities in policing and community safety.

« Older Entries

Next Entries »

“Pitch to the Chief was a fantastic opportunity to engage youth-led innovations and ideas, giving a new perspective on the safety and wellness challenges at our service and in our community,” said Chief Paul VandeGraaf, Cobourg Police Service. “Seeing these bright, caring, and engaged students share their ideas was inspiring. Congratulations to all the participants and Shaan Halaith, winner of the best pitch of the high school teams.”

“For the students who came to Venture13 for Pitch to the Chief, for many of them, this was their first time making a presentation of this kind,” said Joe Miller, V13 Policetech Accelerator Lead at NCFDC. “This is incredible experience for their personal development, and brings police and municipal leadership and emergency services personnel into direct conversation with young people in our community–high school students who have unique perspectives and insights to share, but who are not usually a part of these discussions. We’re very proud of all of the participants.”

The next edition of Pitch to the Chief will be announced early in 2023.