By: Sneha and Tiyah
On a bitterly cold February morning, the
Grade 8 students of GPS streamed in bleary eyed at 6 am into school. Normally, we
would just be waking up for class – but this day was different. We were about
to board the coach bus for our graduation trip to Ottawa! The excitement was
palpable as the luggage was loaded and we made ourselves comfortable in the
seats. Our teachers Mr. Hambly and Ms. MacGillivray, and our
Vice Principal Ms. Brndiar looked very anxious. It seemed as though they were
wondering if they would be able to survive the tour with our boisterous grade!
The road trip was very long, and we were extremely
cramped. Everyone was relieved when the bus finally pulled over. Our first stop
was the Canadian War Museum. The architecture there was interesting, as one
part of the War Museum used the sound of wind to echo through the halls,
creating a calming effect. We learned about the various wars that Canada
participated in. Canada was never an aggressor- our role has always been to
fight for our values and maintain peace in the world. There are many Canadian
war heroes who brought glory to our country, like the two soldiers who survived
6 bullet wounds! We saw the jeep that they drove in while they were being
sprayed with bullets – their bravery was awe inspiring.
After a quick lunch at the Byward Market, we stopped
by the Lord Elgin hotel to drop off our luggage, and took some time to recharge
our energy. By the time we finished, it was time for our buffet dinner at
Tucker's. To be honest, the food wasn't as tasty as we had hoped. But the
experience we had after that was so sensational that it made up for the food
and long bus ride. We split up into our two classes- Ms. MacGillivray and Mr.
Hambly, and prepared for our tour of the haunted Ottawa jail!
The guides who lead us around were amazing. They were
able to set a fear filled atmosphere, and told bone chilling tales as we walked
through the jail. The scariest part was that the stories were all true!
Everyone was terrified that the ghost of Patrick Whelan was going to appear at
any moment! Yikes!!
Sleep that night was hard. After hearing so many real
horror stories, we were ready to bolt! Somehow, we survived the night with no
gruesome murders and woke up early the next day to eat breakfast at Tucker’s.
Everyone was excited, as this was our first full day
in Ottawa. We started with a visit to the Supreme Court of Canada. On the bus,
we had a mock Parliament session, where we learned how a bill became a law,
while having fun.
In the Supreme Court of Canada, we learned about the
three-tier juridical system in Canada. It was fascinating to learn how the
Court works when it is in session. We even had a mock trial to fully understand
what a trial looks like.
The
next stop was the Parliament of Canada. It took a while to get through the
security, but the experience after was worth the wait. The architecture here
was phenomenal! Gilded designs covered every inch of the insides. It was a fascinating
blend of stateliness and vibrancy. Their vaulted ceilings, marble floors and
dramatic lighting created an air of dignity, yet the stone walls were alive
with decoration. After visiting Parliament, we felt so proud of the democracy,
and how fortunate we are to be citizens of this great country. In our personal
opinions, the library was the best part of Parliament. Shelf after shelf was
covered with books. The walls seemed to be almost 5 stories high (no pun
intended)! We were disappointed when we had to leave.
The visit to the Snowflake Kingdom was by far the best experience of the
whole trip. It is the largest snow playground in North America. Everybody had a
blast while we zoomed down ice-slides and went tubing. Even the teachers joined
in the fun!
Skating on the Rideau Canal was also a worthwhile experience. Some of
our classmates were exceptional skaters, while others barely managed to keep
their balance! Unfortunately, it was bitterly cold and we were desperate to get
back to the hotel.
The dinner at Lone Star was the best place we had eaten on the tour. The
food there was delicious, and it was entertaining to watch fellow classmates
party on the dance floor. We even played limbo, and watched some hidden talents
emerge!
As Friday dawned, we were sad the tour was coming to an end and our
blissful escape from homework would cease. It tested even the most patient
student’s resilience when we walked in the sub-zero temperatures just to have a
group picture taken in front of the Governor’s house.
It was then time for our last place of interest, the Royal Canadian
Mint. In the gift shop, we all held a real solid bar of gold. It was heavier
than we had expected. We felt proud to know that Canada made coins for not only
ourselves, but also other countries. The process for making coins was also
fascinating, and we watched people hard at work go through this process.
Sadly, our tour of Ottawa had come to an end. We checked out of the
hotel, and despondently prepared ourselves for the long ride home. The memories
of Ottawa will remain with us for a long time. We are so glad that our grade 8
trip was a grand success. Perhaps the teachers will pass on the stories of our
mischief to the next grades!
