King's International students spend reading week in French Canada

Story and Photograph by Chantal Quagliara, King's Communications Intern

While reading week is a great time to catch up on your studies, it is also a great time to take advantage of one of King’s experiential learning trips. King’s International students had an unforgettable reading week in French Canada, where they had the opportunity to learn about Canadian culture and history while discovering all of the amazing things Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City have to offer.

Their journey began in our nation’s capital, Ottawa. After a long day of bus travel, the students were able to stretch their legs while exploring one of the best museums in the country, the Canadian Museum of History. A brisk walk through the chilly streets of Ottawa brought the students to one of the most iconic political and historical sites in Canada, Parliament Hill. The Parliament Buildings sit atop the hill overlooking the Ottawa river, while inside the politicians debate the current and future issues of our country. After getting a tour of the incredible Gothic-style buildings that are home to Canada’s federal government, the students stopped for a quick bite to eat at one of the city’s premier attractions for tourists and locals alike, the ByWard Market. After eating and shopping their way through a market as diverse as Canada, it was time to move on to their next destination, Montreal.

Montreal is home to the second largest French speaking population in the world. It is also notoriously cold in the middle of February. This year was no exception! Our students started their morning with a visit to Mount Royal, where following a scenic stroll through the snowy park, they were treated to spectacular views of the city. After exploring the Old Port of Montreal, some students went on to discover the city’s Chinatown, one of the oldest Asian districts in North America, while others chose to find shelter indoors and warm up with a French Canadian classic, a hearty bowl of poutine!

The next stop on their journey brought them to the heart of French Canada, Quebec City. King’s students got a chance to see the famous Chateau Frontenac and the incredible ice sculptures from the recently concluded Quebec Winter Carnival. The historic streets of Old Quebec (also known as Vieux-Québec) gave the students a beautiful glimpse into Canada’s past. As they walked the cobblestone, boutique-lined streets led by a local costumed guide, they were able to discover historic beauty around every corner. Quebec City is also home to North America’s only ice hotel, the Hôtel de Glace. This architectural masterpiece made with 500 tons of ice and 40,000 tons of snow is a truly unique Canadian experience. King’s students got to wander around the ice chapel, sip from frozen glasses at the ice bar, and slip down the big ice slide! The fun didn’t stop there, as students were also given the option to take a thrilling snow tube ride down highest accelerating slide on the continent, standing at almost 34 meters tall!

From learning about French Canadian history and culture, to discovering new foods and places, to experiencing the sheer joy and beauty of a Canadian winter, King’s International students were treated to an extraordinary week in French Canada that was truly the experience of a lifetime!