St. John the Baptist student heads to Queen’s Park
River Almanzor has left no page unturned.
The Grade 8 St. John the Baptist Catholic Elementary School student had an opportunity to learn firsthand about provincial politics as a Legislative Page at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario during a two-week term.
The Page Program at Queen’s Park is a full-time supplementary educational program that engages Grade 7 and 8 students in the parliamentary and political process. Its purpose is to provide students with a positive and enriching educational experience by serving as messengers for Members of Provincial Parliament and the House of Commons, meeting students from other ridings, and learning how laws are made and the province is governed. Each year, roughly 140 boys and girls from across Ontario are selected for the program.
Before beginning the program, each Page must study and learn the faces, names and locations of all MPPs.
During a typical day in the program, Pages arrive at Queen’s Park at approximately 8:00 a.m., dress in their uniforms and then prepare the Legislative Chamber for the morning’s debates. Pages are involved in several activities, including delivering messages and water for the MPPs in the Chamber, taking classes in legislative process and mathematics, and meeting with key legislative players such as the party leaders and the Speaker of the House.
"My term as a Legislative Page was an unforgettable experience,” said Almanzor.
“My two weeks in the program made me much more confident, mature, and I have a deeper understanding of the legislative process. While I was a page, I got to meet people important to the legislature, like the speaker, the clerk, the premier of Ontario, and I even got to have lunch with the MPP from my riding!”
“The page program inspired me to pursue my passion in being involved with the community. It also helped me realize that I’m very interested in politics and law. Being a page comes with a lot of hard work and responsibility, but it’s an opportunity you should never pass on. It’s a life changing experience and I believe every grade 7 or 8 should apply for it."
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The Legislative Page Program is open to students in grades 7 and 8 who have an interest in current affairs, have an academic average of 80% or higher and get along well with their peers and adults. Applications for the Legislative Page Program are accepted for two deadlines each year: November 15th and June 15th. Grade 7 students are eligible for both of these deadlines. Grade 8 students may apply for the November 15th deadline only.
For additional information regarding the Legislative Page’s involvement in this program, please contact the Legislative Page Program at 416-325-7457 or at [email protected].
