Sarnia's Liam Henderson is set to participate in Canada's Smartest Person Junior.  (Photo courtesy of CBC.)Sarnia's Liam Henderson is set to participate in Canada's Smartest Person Junior. (Photo courtesy of CBC.)
Sarnia

Local kid shows off his smarts

Unlike most kids, 11-year-old Liam Henderson is good at keeping a secret.

The Grade 6 Errol Road Public School student hasn't spilled the beans about whether or not he was crowned Canada's Smartest Person Junior this past summer.

The show was taped at the CBC studios in Toronto in August.

Henderson said he felt so relieved when the network announced the cast publicly in September.

"I didn't know if I could hold it in any longer, I just wanted to tell everybody," said Henderson. "It was a fantastic feat. This is the most outstanding achievement of my life."

Henderson was one of 12 contestants, aged nine to 12, selected for the six-episode show.

"I think the one thing that made me stick out is my personality. I think that in the personality quiz they said that I did a pretty darn good job," he said.

Henderson will compete in social, linguistic, logical and visual categories.

"I think my smarts are pretty good. I got top 25 percent in the Gauss [mathematics and computing] contest last year, so that proves my logical intelligence," said Henderson. "I'm a future broadcaster, which proves my linguistic intelligence and social intelligence."

He will also compete in musical and physical challenges.

"I play two instruments [piano and drums] and I play hockey, baseball, karate and curling. So, I mean I thought I had a pretty good chance -- since I was an all-around player,"  said Henderson.

Liam said his ultimate goal is to run for prime minister one day.

Canada's Smartest Person Junior debuts on CBC Wednesday at 8 p.m.

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