Few teenagers from Merritt have the privilege to say, “I’ve been to Ottawa. I’ve been inside the Parliament Building, visited the House of Commons, and spoken to the descendant of one of Canada’s own Prime Ministers.” But 17-year-old Taylor Morrison is an exception. She volunteered to represent the Merritt area in a five-day rotary program that would take place in Ottawa on May 1. Taylor, along with 220 other selected students, took a flight out of Kamloops to Vancouver, and from there to Ottawa.

The program ran from May 1 to 6. On day one in Ottawa, Morrison and her travel companions were divided up and given a list of clues. The objects in question were hidden – all around Ottawa.

As well as games and a feast, Morrison and her peers took a tour of the National Library and were presented with host speakers, such as the Chairman of the Rotary Program who caught everyone up on the “housekeeping” rules. That night, Morrison was introduced to her host family, who would be accommodating her for the next week. She admits that her host family, Chris and Alan Walker, made the experience all that more enjoyable.

On Day Two in Ottawa, Morrison was invited to tour the Canadian War Museum. She claims that the museum, among other attractions, was one of the most rewarding experiences because she, along with friend Nicole, could identify the different wars after all those grueling hours of social studies. There were several exhibits, which included “Camouflage,” “Battleground,” and “For Crown and Country.”

Can you say politics? A Parliament Tour, the House of Commons and Justin Trudeau all in one day? Yes, Morrison did meet the famed son of Pierre Trudeau, Canada’s former Prime Minister. She describes hordes of girls swarming up to meet him, and managed to snap several shots with him herself. He gave a motivational presentation that highlighted the leaders of today and what he believes in. Afterwards, there was a Q&A period in which Morrison took the opportunity to ask questions like, “What do you do as an MP for your riding?” His overall response was based around improving immigration and housing, which is a particular cause for concern in his area. As for the Parliament tour, it took the entire group inside the Parliament buildings, and from there to the House of Commons, where Audrey O’Brien, the Deputy Clerk for the House of Commons and another speaker, Peter Milliken, discussed the roles of their job. Morrison also had the opportunity to meet the ambassadors from Korea and the Netherlands.

Morrison’s busy day continued with a tour of the Supreme Court of Canada, where a mock trial was held among the students and a presentation was given on court trials. The cherry on top was visiting Foreign Affairs. Morrison hails this as being fascinating and her “dream job.” Roles of the Foreign Affairs workers included working with the Prime Minister and Governor General – even Barack Obama!

May 4 was as eventful as the rest. A reception was held for the Members of Parliament, where all 220 students (looking their best) headed down to the Parliament Building to meet the MPs After the reception, the group made their way to the University of Ottawa, where each student received a free copy of Nabil Oudeh’s “Conflict is for the Birds.” The students listened to Nabil discuss his novel and his experiences working with students and political leaders of all ages. Afterwards, everyone got a chance to unwind for the first time since their arrival in Canada’s bustling capital, with a MuchMusic dance
Day five, and only one day to go in Ottawa. All 220 students attended the Citizenship Ceremony, where 35 immigrants from 21 different countries around the world were currently in the process of becoming Canadians. The entire group partook in an oath and sang O Canada, and afterwards got their citizenships renewed. Morrison stressed that this was the most emotional ceremony yet, and quoted Judge Suzanne Pinel… “Becoming a Canadian means so much more than just a piece of paper.” The farewell lunch (another tearjerker) was the last stop of Morrison’s journey. Each province had a representative stand and give a farewell speech at the luncheon, including B.C. whose representative was a young man from Surrey.

With this life-changing experience behind her, not to mention the friends she’d made along the way: Akash, Gabe, Oliver, Baylee, Emily, and Nicole, there’s no denying that Morrison felt a little homesick over her new home. “I’ll never forget it: the sightseeing, the opportunities of a lifetime, and all these new friends who I plan on seeing in the future.”

“I had the opportunity to meet a boy named Chris Skinner on the trip. He will be missed by all participants of the trip, including myself,” added Morrison. Chris died shortly after the program ended.

Overall, Morrison’s bright memories of her journey outweigh the darker ones, and she only wishes it hadn’t ended so soon.