Local Pages return from Queen’s Park

While politics may seem dull and drab to many Grade 7 and 8 students, two Sudbury students are reveling in their two-week experience at Queen’s Park.

Soon after March Break, Magalie Malette and Nicolas Bedard travelled to Toronto after being selected from hundreds of applicants to be part of the Ontario Legislative Page Program.

Malette, a Grade 7 student at École Félix-Ricard, described the experience as “a 10-out-of-10-type experience.”

She said she enjoyed retrieving documents from MPPs during routine proceedings, having access to secure locations, and having lunch with Sudbury and Nickel Belt MPPs Rick Bartolucci and France Gélinas.

“They are really interesting and fun to be with,” Malette said.

Malette also attributes her new-found self-confidence to her experience in the program.

“I had to overcome being nervous when bringing documents to MPPs and other employees.”

For his part, Bedard, a Grade 8 student at École John-Paul II, highlighted his brush with MPPs as the best part of the program.

He said he also enjoyed making new friends, and learned the value of hard work.
“What I learned from this experience is that when you work hard at school, you can accomplish anything you want later on.”

Each year, the Legislative Page Program offers about 140 students across the province a chance to observe the legislative process for two to four week.

The program is geared specifically towards Grade 7 and 8 students. To be chosen, an applicant must submit a 750-word essay outlining their interest in the program and back up their application with extracurricular and leadership activities.

Malette and Bedard both said the first-hand experience has given them a better understanding on how government works.