Epic Battles, Ultramodern Factories and Scenic Exploration all Part of Mississauga Niagara Tour

It’s amazing just how many activities can be fit into a day. Just ask the Grade 4 students from the Mississauga campus, who spent three jam-packed days touring the Niagara and Cambridge regions in search of real-life examples of Ontario’s history, geography and economy.
 On the first day, the students, along with teachers and Mississauga Principal Alain Delaune, learned about the true legends of Niagara Falls. They also spent a considerable amount of time at Fort George, located just outside Niagara-on-the-Lake, witnessing live demonstrations of historic firearms, and listening to guides describe some highly significant battles that took place between the British and their loyalists on the side of Upper Canada, and the Americans on the other side of the Niagara River.

The students also had the opportunity to walk through the magical environment of the Butterfly Conservatory before heading off to dinner. After dinner, they walked down towards the Niagara River to take in another spectacular sight – the Falls themselves.
The next day, the journey took the students from the Toyota Auto Plant in Cambridge then backtracked to Dundurn Castle in Hamilton. There, they had the opportunity to bake cookies in the historic kitchen using old-fashioned ingredients, like rosewater. They were also very impressed with the toilet – one of the first of the flushing variety to be seen in Upper Canada.

Last stop on their way back to Niagara was the Welland Canal, where they observed a ship going through the locks. Remarked M. Delaune, “The memory cards of their cameras must be huge, as I have seldom seen such active photographers!”

As for their recreational time, M. Delaune took on the role of evening (French) storyteller, while Alexandre Ferrand, physical education teacher, was in charge of swimming activities, and Cynthia Polan, Grade 4 homeroom teacher, in charge of more sedate activities, such as watching the Habs play against the Flyers.

It was a memorable trip – instructive, eye-opening and lots of fun!