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Canada trip of a lifetime
Since 1986, girls and boys under the care
and protection of the Royal Masonic
Trust for Girls and Boys have benefited
from educational holidays abroad. The
children and young adults selected each
year are from low-income families unable
to arrange such visits.
In August 2004, a group of 32 students,
aged between 16 and 19, enjoyed a 13-day
visit to Canada. The main towns and
cities visited were Toronto, Ottawa and
Huntsville all in Ontario and Mont
Tremblant, in the Province of Quebec.
The most memorable attractions
included Niagara Falls, where the party
braved the breathtaking `Maid of the
Mist' boat ride, the 1,800 ft CN Tower,
the stables of the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police, the Canadian Museum
of Civilisation, a private tour of the
Canadian Parliament buildings and a
visit to the Park Omega wildlife centre.
They also sadly witnessed the Toronto
Blue Jays slump to another baseball defeat
at the amazing Sky Dome arena.
Whilst visiting the Black Creek Pioneer
Village near Toronto, the group visited
an 1870s Masonic Temple, a permanent
exhibition manned by the Freemasons
of Ontario.
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The youngsters who enjoyed the RMTGB educational trip to Canada
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The party were also privileged to be
received as the personal guests of the
Prime Minister of Canada, and as well
as receiving souvenir gifts from his staff,
they also enjoyed a behind-the-scenes
insight into his private office.
The children and young people selected
to participate in these holidays do not meet
their fellow travellers before departing for
foreign shores, but often as a result of the
holidays life-long friendships are forged.
The aim is always to provide a holiday
of a lifetime.
Some of the comments received by
the Trust after the visit this year included:
"I had an amazing time, Canada is beautiful."
"I just wanted you to know that I really appreciate
all you have done to make this happen for me
and the rest of the group, and for us to come away
with so many happy memories and some fantastic
new friends"
"Three weeks ago tonight I was on the eve of
the experience of a lifetime, a holiday to Canada!
I was a lad who had never been anywhere on my
own, let alone go thousands of miles away from
my family!"
"To pick a highlight of the trip would be
almost impossible because we did so many
memorable things."
"The holiday was packed with firsts, my first trip
abroad, my first flight, my first ride in a cable car
etc. etc. Thank you."
"I have lots of brilliant memories of the trip
that will remain with me forever."
Visit our website at www.rmtgb.org
for further highlights of the trip.
In addition to the annual educational
visits for beneficiaries, the Trust also offers
opportunities for overseas travel in other
ways. The Canada Lodge Travelling
Fellowship for Girls and Boys is one of
the many subsidiary funds administered
by the Trust.
The Trustees are able to make small
grants to young people who wish to
further their education by travel to Canada.
Applications should be submitted in writing
to the Secretary of the RMTGB.
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Copyright 2002-2007
MQ Magazine
Web site created by Mark Griffin
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