John Rennie High School Students Visit the House of Commons
by Marilyn Santucci
Jonathan Kyffin, a teacher at John Rennie High School, recently organized a day trip to Ottawa for one of his classes to visit the House of Commons and observe a question period in session.
The day began with a bus ride to Gatineau, where students enjoyed a refreshing walk through Parc Jacques-Cartier. Along the waterfront trail, Mr. Kyffin shared the park’s rich history and highlighted notable historical buildings visible across the water in Ottawa.
Lunchtime took place at ByWard Market, where students had the chance to explore the area and choose their own spot to eat. Afterward, the group made their way to Parliament Hill to meet Francis Scarpaleggia, a Canadian politician and Member of Parliament representing the Lac-Saint-Louis riding, which covers the western part of Montreal Island in Quebec.
“The experience of visiting Parliament was so enriching for the students because they got to see our nation’s politics play out right in front of them. It’s one thing to hear about political parties and national debates on the news or in the classroom. It’s a whole other thing watching it happen before your very own eyes. Especially with the experience of meeting their Member of Parliament Francis Scarpaleggia, the students have a much closer connection to their government and a much greater interest in the wider world of politics and public policy,” said Jonathan Kyffin.
Upon arrival, the group entered the West Block, home to the House of Commons. Following a brief security screening, they visited the Room of Remembrance, which houses the eight Books of Remembrance. These books contain the names of over 120,000 Canadians who have sacrificed their lives in service to the country.
Usually kept under protective glass in the Memorial Chamber of the Centre Block, the books are currently displayed in the Visitor Welcome Centre’s Room of Remembrance while the Centre Block undergoes a decade-long renovation.
The group then gathered in an open area where Francis Scarpaleggia delivered a brief speech about his career and what students could anticipate during Question Period. This was followed by a Q&A session, giving students the chance to ask questions and gain valuable insight into the daily life and responsibilities of a politician.
Next, the students were ushered into the House of Commons to witness members of Parliament debate pressing topics, including Ukraine and inflation. The lively exchanges gave students a firsthand view of politicians in action and the workings of parliamentary debate.
“It was also very important to visit Parliament to hear all sides of a debate. So much of what our students see is filtered through social media algorithms. They very often only hear one side of a debate. Exposing the students to new perspectives was an important element of the field trip, as it is for the course itself,” Kyffin explained.
After Question Period, the group visited a nearby building for an immersive Parliament experience. This interactive activity explored the iconic Centre Block through an exhibition and a captivating 360° multimedia show, providing a deeper understanding of Canada’s parliamentary history and operations.
“This field trip was also very useful in preparing the students for a Model United Nations in the spring. In the past, that experience has always opened the students’ eyes to the decorum of politics and the process of negotiating and finding solutions to problems. For that reason, watching the debate in the House of Commons gave them a bit of a preview of what is to come for them,” said Kyffin.
