Mar 10, 2014: MISSISSAUGA — Kiranpreet Kaur Walia is a Grade 8 student at Fairwind Senior Public School for whom March Break marks a return to normal life after spending three weeks at Queen’s Park.
The 13-year-old completed the Ontario Legislature’s Page Program late last week, and will get a few days of well-deserved rest before reuniting with her Fairwind classmates.
From Feb. 18 to March 6, Kiranpreet was one of 22 students from across Ontario who spent their days hobnobbing with Ontario politicians.
For $25 a day, they served as messengers on the floor of the legislative chamber, met with key parliamentary figures and learnt about the province’s system of government.
“It was an amazing experience, one that I will remember for a long time,” says the well-spoken student.
Each year approximately 140 young students from across Ontario are selected to participate in the program — and it’s certainly not a walk in the park.
“I had to memorize all 107 MPPs’ names, faces, ridings, political party, and even where they sat in chamber,” says Kiranpreet.
As well, the pages had to learn the proper legislative procedures and protocol for delivering key documents such as bills, motions, petitions and reports by committees.
It all made for long, gruelling days, says Kiranpreet, who commuted to downtown Toronto from her Mississauga home each day.
“We had to pay close attention to what’s happening, and do a lot of standing,” she says.
Then there were the “gopher” tasks like carrying water to thirsty MPPs.
However, there were days when the pages were treated like celebrities.
“On the second day we were introduced by the Speaker. We smiled and bowed and the MPPs all stood up and clapped,” says Kiranpreet.
On one memorable occasion, Kiranpreet met Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak.
“It was outside in the lobby, and he was very nice,” she recalls.
She also crossed paths with Premier Kathleen Wynne, who smiled and said hello to her. Uncharacteristically, Kiranpreet found herself a bit tongue-tied.
“It was a really awkward moment,” she says.
Her most exciting moments? That would be Question Period, says Kiranpreet.
“There would be a lot of heckling going on in the background. It was fun listening to all the arguments going back and forth,” she reports.
Grade 7 and 8 students who are interested in the program must submit a 750-word essay detailing what community and other experience they have to demonstrate leadership, responsibility and interpersonal skills, complete an online application form and a consent form signed by their parents, teacher and principal. They must also have an 80 per cent or higher academic average. Each year there are usually 500 to 800 applications for the 140 coveted positions.
Two Mississaugans made the cut: Kiranpreet and Samer El-Galmady.
A typical day sees the successful students arrive at Queen’s Park by 8 a.m., dress in black uniforms (with white shirts), and then prepare the chamber for the day’s proceedings.
Besides learning about Ontario’s parliamentary system, Kiranpreet may have discovered a new career path.
“I would love to represent my riding some day,” she says.