Canada Study Tour in Spring 2023!

Canada Study Tour & Leadership Exchange Program (6^th edition)
28^th April – 14^th May 2023

Canada Study Tour is organized by the Polish Academy of Canada in association with Carla Cuglietta from Young Leaders. World (Alberta Canada), and YLCC (Ontario, Canada) known also as Peregrine Leadership. During the tour students explore Canadian cultures and current issues of Canada through their visits to the major Canadian universities, governmental and environmental institutions of Canada, and take part in the leadership programs and conferences (Global Student Leadership Conference). Canada Study Tour revolves around the concept of Canadian LEADERSHIP WITH HEART.

The 6^th edition of Canada Study Tour  started on 28^th of April 2023 and 12 chosen participants from all over Poland flew first to London in Ontario where they took part in the 3 day conference Global Student Leadership Summit with other Canadian students, as well as participants from 6 different countries. The conference started with a small bowling party and some leadership activities so after the arrival there was no time for boredom but the students had to emerge into Canadian cultures immediately. On the 29^th of April the students registered for the conference and connected with some Indigenous students from Nunavut and could exchange their viewpoints with other Canadian teachers, lectures ad could liste to many distnigued personalities who in their keynote speakers reflected on our willingness to try to be the best versions of ourselves both in professional and private life. These are not the easiest things to understand, let alone design for oneself, because they are associated with great emotions. Our student Wiktoria Bieganska took part in the competition called ‘Global Got Talent’ and gave the audience an incredible experience. After rthe conference the student were sightseeing Toronto and later they also met with Prof. Helen Bajorek MacDonald and Jean Komarnicki to discuss Polish, Ukrainian and Canadian cultures, as well as other interesting personal issues in Oshawa. The same day the students left for the Leadership Camp Experience in Scugog and took part in 3-day Leadership Training, went canoing and kayaking, as well as devoted their all time to learn to THINK like a leader and why it is so important.

Finally on the 5^th of May 2023 the participants flew to Vancouver and Vancouver Island where they took part in another leadership training at the Victoria University and listened to the lecture about leading with empathy delivered by the Dean of Social Sciences - Dr Lois Harder. What is more, at Victoria university, Dr Curtis Clarke provided insight on how to best prepare for future through learning. On Vancouver Island the students also met with Ian Paul Campbell Thomas from Endangered Ecosystem Alliance Organization, which works with First Nations and Organizations to support Indigenous Protected and Conserved areas, who showed to us the Avatar Grove and ‘Canada’s Gnarliest Tree.’ On Vancouver Island the students visited Campbell River where they went on a gorgeous boat tour to see the wildlife of British Columbia. On Vancouver Island the students also enjoyed the hospitality of Melissa Hoffort and Sheldon Saywell – Canadian family with whom they took part in lots of Canadian fun activities. The students also took part in the Kindness and Empathy course led by Melissa Hoffort, who is also one of the important keynote speakers in CST and helps us to  organize Canada Study Tour part in British Columbia. The students enjoyed the course so much that it was prolonged for another 2 hours and finished with many private discussions.  In addition to the leadership sessions, the students also visited some of the most breathtaking and majestic places in Canada, enjoyed the hospitality of many Canadians at their homes and simply also made lifelong Canadian friendships. The tour was 17 day long and the students came back to Poland on 14th of May 2023 and they couldn’t say good-bye to each other.