Student meets Justin Trudeau while playing politician for the day

BY MINA KERR-LAZENBY NORTH SHORE NEWS

It's not every day a secondary school student's itinerary involves hobnobbing with the prime minister.

As part of École Handsworth School’s Take Our Kids to Work Day, ninth-grader Brogan Maloney toured Parliament buildings and met with political bigwigs. His most notable experience was sitting down with his uncle's (James Maloney, Liberal MP for the Etobicoke Lakeshore district) colleague, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

"It was awesome," said Maloney, reflecting on the experience. "He is a really nice person."

Chewing the political fat with the country's leader sparked an interest in politics for Maloney, who said, prior to the event, he hadn't really thought about what he would do for a career.

It hadn't been his first foray into the political sphere. In 2019, he aided his uncle's campaign in Toronto, knocking on doors, handing out flyers and helping deliver lawn signs – but he had never considered it as a career until his day donning the politician's hat.

Helping young teenagers realize what job opportunities are available to them is the aim of the annual national program, which was first initiated in 1994 by the Learning Partnership.

"The program gives Grade 9s a chance to see what the working world is like," said Handsworth VicePrincipal Meghan Downie.

"To see what networking looks like, and to have the opportunity to potentially get some ideas for after high school."

For some students, it is simply an opportunity to understand the careers of their family members, to see them outside of the context of parent, or uncle, and better understand what they do to help contribute towards the family.

"To be able to see it in person is very cool for students," said Downie. ■