Can anything in life and living ever really be Flawless?

And what, pray tell, you may ask is 'reasonable'? Well, try if you can, visualizing having to manage the whims, wishes, and wackiness of 160 teenagers between the ages of 14 and 18 who are the cast and crew of Laurier Senior High School's tenth anniversary Show With Fashion – Flawless.

"Ah, it's no big deal," says senior advisor Alan De Souza, creator of the 'show with fashion' concept of this annual production which puts as much emphasis on the 'show' aspect of the experience as it does on the 'fashion' it is expected to showcase on the stage of an auditorium which has not seen an empty seat for any of the thirty or so performances that have been an integral part of the activity program at Laurier Senior High School and its predecessor, Laval Catholic High School, since 1999.

"Because I consider it a blessing," says Mr. De Souza, in answer to the question of "why do you do it"? "It's an annual gift to the school and to the community-at-large, both of which benefit from the efforts of these young people to provide moments of fun, fancy, and relief from the trials and tribulations of daily life.

But that’s not all that the ‘Show With Fashion’ provides. “It’s different things to different people, and although there are many common elements that link the members of the cast and crew, there are also a variety of individual experiences and lessons learned on an individual basis,” explains Mr. De Souza, whose responsibilities at Laurier Senior High School also include his daily work as Special Education Technician and Job Placement Officer. “Trust me”, he says, “for some of these young people this is a life saver. It gives them the opportunity to engage in a challenging but doable activity, and it enhances their self-esteem beyond what anyone can imagine. I see it, day in and day out, as they come to the auditorium after class to work on their moves, their choreography, and their ‘scenes’. Some of them even tell me over and over again that if it weren’t for the fashion show, they would have a hard time staying in school.

"They’re not all in the same boat, these young people, but many of them come from difficult family situations, with enormous challenges - some financial, others emotional or spiritual, and it’s not uncommon for us to deal with many problems some of these truly beautiful but somewhat troubled young people bring to us.”

Us in this case, are a handful of adults who make great personal sacrifices to render unto these 160 young people the opportunities they need to make a contribution to their school community and to the various charities the show supports with funds raised. The ‘us’ – are Mr. De Souza’s co-advisors: Domenic Di Stefano (Spiritual Animator at Laurier Senior High School) and Lina Varano (parent volunteer), both of whom have been integral parts of this exercise in applied learning for many years.

"We are a team," says Mr. De Souza, "and we function as such from beginning to end. It would not work any other way, and we are indebted to these two fine people and the countless other volunteers who are a part of the process," sums up the inimitable showman whose capacity to teach, shape, and form is documented by the first-class shows that grace the school's stage year after year. "And don't forget the support of teachers, administrators, and support staff without whose cooperation our task would be rendered much more difficult. Their contribution is priceless and substantial." Mr. De Souza adds.

Of note, most of the proceeds from these annual projects are donated to various non-profit organizations, among which are the Canadian Breast Cancer Society, the Children's Wish Foundation, le Bon Dieu Dans La Rue, and several others. The school's activity program also benefits from some of the funds raised by the cast, crew, and advisors of the Laurier Senior High School 2008 Show With Fashion - (Flawless)