LCS Investment Club Welcomes Fiera Capital CEO for an Inspiring Session on Investing

Lakefield College School’s Investment Club had the privilege of hosting Mr. Jean-Guy Desjardins P ’23 ’24 ’25, CEO of Fiera Capital, for a discussion about investing. As one of Canada’s leading figures in finance, Mr. Desjardins brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to share with our students, providing a deep dive into Fiera Capital’s diversified approach to investing.

During the session, Mr. Desjardins highlighted Fiera Capital’s strategies, which span public market equities, private ventures like infrastructure projects (including the Billy Bishop Airport tunnel), real estate private equity, and lending services. He offered students invaluable insights into navigating the complexities of modern markets, emphasizing the importance of understanding risk, having a clear time horizon, and being mindful of the volatility that can accompany emerging markets.

A key point of discussion was the risk posed by highly speculative securities. Mr. Desjardins encouraged students to critically evaluate such investments, particularly in light of the unpredictability surrounding central bank policies and their impact on the economy. His candid remarks on cryptocurrency sparked lively debate. He questioned the tangible value of digital currencies compared to more traditional assets like the Canadian dollar, noting the lack of underlying value in cryptocurrencies.

The session was marked by active student participation, with many taking the opportunity to ask thoughtful, well-prepared questions. It was inspiring to witness the enthusiasm and curiosity of the Investment Club members, who benefited from this engaging discussion.

Reflecting on the event, Ben ’25 shared, “We were all honoured with the privilege to have someone of that calibre come and talk to us about such an interesting and complex topic. Furthermore, we were able to learn so much and most students even got the opportunity to ask a question they had prepared outside of the designated club time which showed their dedication and genuine interest in understanding the intricacies of investing.”

We are grateful to Mr. Desjardins for taking the time to share his expertise and for inspiring our students with his thoughtful perspectives. We look forward to building on this experience as the club continues to grow and explore new opportunities in the world of finance.