Grade 6 Honoré Mercier student excels at soccer and scholastics

Victoria Rawski, a Grade 6 student at Honoré Mercier Elementary School in St. Leonard, has been selected to represent Canada at the International Mundialito Tournament, which will take place under the auspices of FIFA from April 1 to April 9, 2023 in Spain.  

This is an international event that brings together the world's elite soccer players in age-based categories between eight and 13 years old. For this exclusive tournament, École Sportive Montréal Canada is proud to count on the participation of a player from the Montreal region.  Victoria also plays for the St Leonard Lions and practices two to three times a week. She must also train at home with exercises sent from her coach. She is very dedicated.

“Victoria has been playing soccer since she was a little girl,” says her mom Jennifer Uniat. “It started out for fun, and throughout COVID  became essential for physical and mental health. She has gained confidence through the sport and is passionate on the field.” 

Victoria is an honours student at Honoré Mercier and of Ukrainian background. In 2021-2022, she collected soccer balls as part of a school project to give to the Ukrainians that arrived in Montreal. She was hoping to share a smile despite languages barriers and difficulties of starting over. “Friendship without boarders” was the title of her project. She collected so many soccer balls that she is still continuing this project. Victoria was also recently voted as the most “caring” classmate in her class.

Principal Sonia Marotta notes that Victoria is a beautiful young lady inside and out and can be a role model for young girls with her caring personality, ambition, persistence and positive outlook on life.   

Victoria says she is very excited to be going to Spain. “ I’m even practicing my Spanish,” she says. “I can’t imagine how it feels to play in a stadium full of people.  I’m excited for the opening ceremonies when we get to walk with the Canadian flag and of course play against other teams around the world. I’ll also be going with my dad Peter, who encourages me at every game with his  inspiring suggestions.” 

Next year Victoria will attend Vincent Massey Collegiate in Rosemount. As for what career she’d like to pursue one day, she responded:  “That’s a big question! Come back in five years to talk to me. I love kids and soccer, so I would first really like to coach soccer or help coach. As for the real future, I have been thinking about being a teacher or a pediatrician.”

About the English Montreal School Board

With a youth and adult sector population of more than 35,000 students, the English Montreal School Board (EMSB) is the largest English public school board in Quebec. Established on July 1, 1998, when the province created new boards along linguistic lines, the EMSB network consists of 73 schools and centres. For more details, visit the EMSB website at www.emsb.qc.ca.