From Pitch to Progress: Youth Innovation in Action This Summer

As students return to school this September, several local youth are heading back to the classroom with more than a summer break behind them. They spent the past few months building apps, testing ideas, meeting with community leaders and learning what it takes to move a project from pitch to progress.

For students taking part in the V13 Policetech Accelerator’s Pitch to the Chief™ - Youth Edition, the pitch is only the beginning.

This summer, youth from St. Mary Catholic Secondary School and Port Hope High School continued developing community safety and wellness projects through the Youth in Policing Initiative (YIPI).

Powered by the V13 Policetech Accelerator in partnership with the Cobourg Police Service and with support from the Port Hope Police Service, the program gave students the opportunity to move beyond ideas and experience what it takes to build, test and share a solution in the real world. Summer youth employment opportunities were also supported through Canada Summer Jobs.

Four projects. Four approaches to community impact.

SafeTrek, developed by students from Port Hope High School, has grown from an early-stage concept into a federally incorporated technology company with a working minimum viable product (MVP). The navigation app is designed to help people facing mobility challenges identify more accessible routes through their communities.

Over the summer, the team received support from the Port Hope Rotary Club, presented to MP Philip Lawrence, participated in the Inspired in Hope entrepreneurship event and began exploring Port Hope and Cobourg as potential pilot communities.

Field Finder, developed by students from St. Mary Catholic Secondary School, is a mobile app designed to help youth organize pickup games by making it easier to find and coordinate access to local sports fields, courts, rinks and recreation facilities.

The team moved from concept to a functioning MVP while gaining hands-on experience in app development, testing and project management. They also presented to MP Philip Lawrence.

Safer Summers, also developed by a St. Mary student, focuses on improving waterfront safety by connecting businesses and organizations with communities seeking support for lifeguard programs, safety equipment and related resources.

After encountering challenges with the original concept, the project pivoted to a model that could be adapted by other communities interested in supporting waterfront lifeguard programs. The student also connected with Cobourg Town Council, YMCA Northumberland, municipal parks and recreation representatives and Loyalist College.

SafeTrek, Field Finder and Safer Summers also participated in police ride-alongs and provided a summer recap to Cobourg Police Service senior officers and board members.

Patterns 2 Paths demonstrates what can happen when a project continues beyond a single competition or summer.

Originally pitched by Port Hope High School students in the 2025 Pitch to the Chief™ - Youth Edition, the project received an Honourable Mention and an invitation to collaborate with Port Hope Police Service. The concept uses art and visual design to help crosswalks stand out and increase awareness around pedestrian safety.

The students have continued developing the idea and are scheduled to present it to Port Hope Council on September 15.

Students also had opportunities to share their work with the wider community through local media, including interviews on Northumberland at 5 on Northumberland 89.7 FM.

Learning by doing

The summer program gave students hands-on experience pitching ideas, responding to feedback, managing projects and building relationships with business, municipal, police and community partners.

They were mentored by Melanie Gonzalez, co-founder of Sorora Safety and a winner of the 2025 Pitch to the Chief™ - Youth Edition. Since then, Sorora Safety has continued developing its personal safety platform, including beta testing at a Canadian university and launching its app in August.

Gonzalez returned this summer to help guide the next group of students, a progression from participant to entrepreneur to mentor that reflects the longer-term impact of the program.

Pitch to the Chief™ may begin with a competition, but the impact comes from what happens next: developing an idea, testing it in the community and seeing how far it can go.

Back to school, and back to pitching

With a new school year underway, the V13 Policetech Accelerator is preparing for another Pitch to the Chief™ - Youth Edition.

The program challenges high school students to identify real community needs, develop innovative solutions and pitch their ideas directly to police, municipal and community leaders.

Schools interested in participating in this year’s Pitch to the Chief™ - Youth Edition can contact V13 Policetech Accelerator Lead Joe Miller at jmiller@nventure.ca.