Our Grad Trip to Ottawa

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!