Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
When people think of New York City they might imagine the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building or Times Square. But a group of St. Patrick High School students experienced all that and more when they were given the VIP treatment at Canadian Consul General John Prato's New York residence.

St. Patrick High School students enjoy dinner at the Canadian consul general's New York residence during a fine arts trip earlier this month. Participants at the dinner included Aimee Detinger, front row, from left, Paulina Brooks, Theresa Butt, Justine Cuvelier, teacher Kendra McGaughey, teacher Emma Smith, teacher Barbara de Bastiani, Dr. Lori Billinghurst, Sarah Milkowski and Rebecca Woodfine. Second row, from left: Courtney Dickson, Ben Beland, Iain Brooks, Sarah Sibbeston, Ana Strbac, Cydni Baggs, Kiera Nolting, Reid Hildebrandt, Timothy Henderson and Pascal Erasmus. Third row, from left: Madison James, Savannah Lane, Taylor Le, Rachel Latour, Maddy Skinner and teacher Scott Roos. Fourth row, from left: Cassi Atamanenko, Christine Dunbar, Michela Jobse, Tanay Wood, Alysson McKee, Hannah Latour, Pippa Kennedy, Jada Hawkins, Emily Hamm, Alan Nagel, Alex McIssac and Consul General John Prato. - photo courtesy of Kendra McGaughey

For some of the 32 high school students, from grades 9 through 12, participating in the whirlwind trip to New York City, it was their first time in the United States. The group started fundraising for the trip in 2011, when Kendra McGaughey was still a fine arts teacher at St. Patrick High School.

"It was a joint fine arts and drama trip," said McGaughey. "We visited museums, Broadway shows and also saw the standard New York sites."

Timothy Henderson, a Grade 11 student, said the environment at the Prato's residence was very welcoming.

But for the young musician, the Broadway shows were what really stood out from the trip.

"Music is my life. I ended up crying during Phantom of the Opera and Wicked," he said. "Once you see Wicked you'll never look at Wizard of Oz the same way again."

Reid Hildebrandt, also in Grade 11, agreed Wicked was one of the highlights.

"I'm not into drama but the music was really powerful," he said.

It was a brief trip, running from Feb. 28 to March 6, but during their visit they were able to fit in four Broadway shows, a tour of NBC studios, a visit to the Julliard School in the Lincoln Centre for Performing Arts and they even managed to fit in a few workshops with professional acting coaches.

"It was so busy and we did so much in that week," said Pauline Brooks, a Grade 12 student.

"Times Square really gave me the New York feeling while Central Park was the total opposite. The park was an escape from all the busyness."

It was through fundraising efforts for the trip that the consul general found out about it. Prato's wife, Dr. Lori Billinghurst, visits Yellowknife often as a pediatrician.

On one of her trips, she bought a raffle ticket from a group of students and when she saw where they were visiting, she told Prato they had to invite the group for dinner.

"There were 37 of us, 32 students and five adults, in their apartment. It was a beautiful. There's a grand piano right as you walk in," said McGaughey.

"We were nervous before walking in but they were so welcoming and laid back," said Brooks.

"It was interesting to see what kind of job he does."

A consul general acts as the top diplomat in an important region of a country other than the capital. Billinghurst had souvenirs from Yellowknife around the apartment.

"She has come up to Yellowknife a lot for work and she said she thinks it's a special place," said McGaughey.

"That was pretty cool that someone from a big city thought it was such a special community."

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.