Local high school graduate off to participate in prestigious political Page Program
A graduate from Lindsay Thurber High School this June is one of 40 Canadian students who will be off to Ottawa this summer to participate in the House of Commons Page Program.
“I heard about the program through my principal Mr. Good and it sounded like something that would be up my alley,” said Elena Bakker. “It’s for students who are politically inclined and anybody who wants to know more about the parliamentary system. It was appealing to me and I was really interested in trying it out.”
Page duties include performing tasks directly related to the sittings of the House such as working with Members of Parliament in a non-partisan role; experiencing debates live in the Chamber; meeting with student groups in the Chamber; and participating in the Speaker’s parade, among other responsibilities.
The process to apply was lengthy, with Bakker first applying in October and being accepted in April. As part of the application process, she had to send in a cover letter, resume, and was tested on her second language abilities to ensure she could communicate confidently in both English and French.