The Teachers Institute on Parliamentary Democracy

Submitted by: Bailey Englot

This November I had the great honor of joining 80 teachers from across Canada in our nation's capital to participate in the Teachers Institute on Parliamentary Democracy. It was the most incredible professional development opportunity that I've ever had and an experience I will never forget! Being surrounded by like-minded, democratically-passionate, lifelong learners while we explored the very heart of our country's democratic process in the most engaging and profound way was a life changing experience not only as a teacher but as a citizen of Canada. Each person from the Parliamentary Librarians who helped organize and run all of the events, to every staff member we met and almost all of the Parliamentarians each made us feel important and so respected for the work that we do with young future voters. Throughout this trip, we got to sit in the House of Commons and the Senate, not just in the seats reserved for spectators but in the actual chairs that our appointed and elected representatives occupy. The “pinch me” moments continued when we were able to tour Rideau Hall, the home of our Governor General, and when we had the esteemed honour of sitting in the courtroom of the Supreme Court of Canada, in front of the 9 chairs of our justices, listening to one of our justices speak to us. 

One of the most surprising realizations I made throughout this experience is that each of the politicians we met had some sort of career before they got elected or appointed and often it didn't involve politics at all. This truly underscored the reality that an enormous number of the people who represent all of us are not only real people but they make up an incredible mosaic of everyday people from all over our country who each bring to the table their experience, passions, and their deep desire to help make our country a better place. As a teacher, this enhanced for me the importance of insuring that I continue to refer to our rights and responsibilities as Canadians at every turn in my teaching. One of the biggest goals of this program is to ensure that teachers recognize the importance of encouraging students to vote as soon as they are eligible. Beyond exercising this important right, it is critical that we help our students understand the implications of being aware and informed, and to recognize that our government is for all of us. The goal is that our students will enter society as adults who care about the policies we live by and who are willing to speak up give things seem unjust. We need our students to think critically and to recognize that they are part of the greater community of Canada. The future of our democracy depends on it!

Applications for this incredible program are accepted in May. I highly encourage anyone who is passionate about teaching our youth that their voice matters to apply! Click Here to learn more about the application process and please feel free to reach out to me at bailey.englot@lrsd.net if you have any questions about how to apply.