Adventure In Citizenship 2025

We had 173 high school students from across the country participating in another successful edition of this annual program sponsored by the Rotary Club of Ottawa since 1951.  The event took place from Sunday May 25^th to Wednesday May 28^th with the participants arriving by train, car and airplanes throughout Saturday May 24^th.  The University of Ottawa U90 Residence was their home during the program.

Some of the highlights of the program is visiting the Canadian Museum of History, siting in the House of Commons Chamber, having a French-Canadian typical sugar shack meal then learning to play spoons and square dancing, participating in a Talent Show and having a dinner and dance at the Dow’s Lake Pavillon.  Importantly for the participants was to be witnessing a Citizenship Ceremony where we had 87 new Canadians receiving their citizenship.

We will be having another edition of the program from Sunday May 24^th to May 29^th, 2026.  We encourage all Rotary Clubs across Canada to consider sponsoring a student for the next program.  If you are a student wishing to participate in this amazing program, please contact your local Rotary Club.

 

Special thanks to our sponsor:

My name is Élianne Zhou, I recently graduated from É.S.P. Le Sommet. As a civic-minded young person and visible minority, I’ve always been passionate about community involvement and leadership. Over the course of high school, I accumulated over 200 hours of volunteering, held various student council positions, including president in grade 11, and participated in the student senate and multiple youth organizations such as FESFO, Model Parliament, and Centre Novas’s feminist magazines.

 

Academically, I pursued the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, a demanding and enriching challenge that has prepared me for my next chapter at McGill University, where I’ll study the Biological, Biomedical and Life Sciences. Outside of school, I’ve been actively participating in the Army Cadet Program since 2019, where I was promoted to senior cadet and instructor in 2023. Cadets taught me leadership and life skills that complemented what I learned in the classroom, all these experiences have shaped me into the person I am today.

With that said, I’d like to share my experience at Adventure in Citizenship 2025, a Rotary Club initiative that brought together 173 youth from across Canada. I’ll walk through my time there day by day and finish with a few closing reflections.

 

 

Saturday, May 24th, was mostly a travel day. Since I live relatively close to the University of Ottawa, where the AiC program was being held, I was instructed to drive to the Ottawa train station to check in. When I arrived, I met one of the AiC staff members and began chatting with other participants. Some had taken the train from Toronto or Montreal, while others had driven in from more remote regions. Some flew in by plane but they were either on the plane at that time or at the airport.

 

One thing became clear right away: AiC has a strong pin-trading culture! The trading began the moment people walked through the door and lasted throughout the adventure. It was a great icebreaker, especially since most of us had never met before. Despite our different backgrounds, it didn’t take long for everyone to start bonding. Conversations were light and curious, recurrent topics included our hometowns, our school clubs like if we had an Interact club or not, and what prompted us to apply to this program.

We eventually boarded a bus and headed to the university residence building (90 University), which would serve as our home base for the duration of the program. After check-in, we received our room keys, some welcome materials (including a Subway gift card for dinner and a souvenir t-shirt), and a quick orientation and walkthrough of the program. Some of the participants from farther away only arrived around 2 a.m. due to flight delays, but those of us already settled in took the opportunity to mingle further.

 

I had a particularly meaningful conversation with another girl who, like me, is a second-generation Chinese immigrant. She’s from Alberta, and we reflected on our parents’ approaches to passing down language and culture. Her parents encouraged her to maintain Mandarin, whereas mine prioritized French as I was growing up. I also met many fellow IB students from across Canada. We bonded over the perceived rigorousness of the program, shared stories about our educational journey, discussed the new science curriculums and our hopes for the week ahead.

One recurring theme in these conversations was uncertainty. Many of us didn’t fully know what to expect from the program or even how to define “citizenship” in this context. What does it mean to be an active citizen? How do we “adventure” into citizenship? These questions lingered in our minds and would soon become central to our experience.

Curfew was at 10 PM and lights out was at 11 PM, participants got to wind down after a day full of excitement, introductions and anticipation. It’s also during this window of time that I met my roommate who turned out to be my bestest friend during the whole program. We had very similar interests and experiences and had a lot to chat and debate about. We still keep in touch to this day! Day 1 had set the tone for me: this was going to be a week of learning, reflection, and connection.

 

 

 

Our first full day began with a copious breakfast in the uOttawa Dining Hall. By 8:45 AM, we gathered in the Alumni Auditorium for the official opening. After singing Ô Canada, we were welcomed by the program co-chairs, who reviewed the week’s logistics and introduced the Rotary team (staff members).

The icebreaker activity that followed was a good way to open up and meet new people. It was one of those BINGO games where we had to get different people to sign different squares that applied to them. I was amazed by the diversity in the room: students from every province, each bringing their unique perspectives and experiences both as a resident of their province and as an individual.

 

Next, Mr. Ben Weiss from the Historical Society of Ottawa delivered a fascinating presentation on the city’s local history. He painted a vivid picture of Ottawa’s evolution. I’m sure everyone learned a ton about the city. Even as an ex-resident of Ottawa, I didn’t know that Ottawa was once named “By-Town” and regarded as a lost cause. It was through a series of events that made Ottawa the capital it is today.

 

After a boxed lunch in the Jock-Turcot building, the group set out for Parliament Hill. I was actually 4 minutes behind schedule; the group had already left when I got to our meet-up spot. I joined 3 other girls who were also late and we decided to walk to Parliament Hill by ourselves (after confirming with a staff member via a phone call). While walking through downtown Ottawa, I felt a sense of pride and anticipation towards the event ahead. Touring the House of Commons was a highlight; standing in such a historic space made me reflect on the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship. Multiple speeches were delivered to us, it was mostly led by the Sergeant-at Arms, Patrick McDonnel, but a few special speakers included the page program students and a surprise speech by MP Tamara Kronis who had just landed in Ottawa that day.

 

 

 

The afternoon included some free time to relax and explore campus before we boarded a bus to Domaine de l’ange-gardien — a traditional sugar shack in Gatineau. There, we enjoyed a delicious French-Canadian dinner (with maple taffy on snow for dessert!) and were treated to live entertainment by a local folk band that had everyone clapping and dancing. I grew up in

Quebec and Eastern Ontario so to me, maple taffy on snow is such a classic seasonal dessert. But at the AiC, I realized that not everyone knew what that was! Much less tried it before. It was kinda weird, I guess I had a stereotype that all Canadians ate maple taffy on snow before and didn’t realize how it’s such a Quebecois thing. It kind of reminds me about how, in the West Coast, people eat calendula flowers but no one eats them in the East Coast since they taste bitter due to the different climate. Anyway, the atmosphere was joyful and lively, and I loved that everyone joined in on the traditional dances!

By the time we returned to the residence, I was exhausted but happy. Unlike the first day/travel day, everything was so amazing but so packed that I felt like I had lived 3 days just on the first day!

 

 

 

After breakfast, we boarded a sightseeing bus for a tour of Ottawa. The city was bathed in sunlight, and our guide pointed out everything from the embassies along Sussex Drive to the green spaces of Rockcliffe Park. The view across the Ottawa River to Gatineau was especially beautiful.

 

 

We returned to campus for a group photo before walking to All Saints Event Centre, a stunning converted church which now serves as a restaurant. Over a catered buffet lunch, we discussed and shared stories. The afternoon’s focus was advocacy: Results Canada led an interactive session on how youth can make a difference on issues that matter to us. We discussed advocacy strategies and brainstormed ways to turn our passion into action. I found it empowering to realize that even as young people, our voices and efforts truly matter.

After a short break, we selected our provincial representatives for the closing ceremony, then we walked back to the university for dinner.

 

 

The evening was dedicated to a Talent Night in the Alumni Auditorium. The performances were incredible — from singing to dancing, magic tricks to stand-up comedy — there definitely was a wide range of talents across all fields! I was very impressed by the courage and creativity of my peers (evidently, I did not participate myself). The stand-up comedy performance was one of my favorites. It stood out the most to me because it was really funny but also because it incorporated a lot of recent slang and niche internet culture references (which I’m familiar with). Cheering each other on brought us even closer together. We finished the Talent Night with a karaoke performance to Pink Pony Club by Chappell Roan where everyone was invited to join.

 

 

 

Tuesday began with a bus ride to the Canadian Museum of History, which happens to be in Gatineau. The museum was a highlight of the trip for me. I loved exploring the exhibits on Indigenous cultures, Canadian history, and the artifacts from across the country and throughout our country's timeline. It was both educational and moving to see the stories that have shaped our nation.

 

 

Back at uOttawa, we had lunch before gathering for two presentations. First, Judge Marie Senécal-Tremblay spoke to us about the responsibilities of citizenship, sharing insights from her career and the importance of active engagement. Then, John Hekbert from Operation Come Home discussed youth advocacy and community action, inspiring us to think about how we can make meaningful change in our own communities (ties in with “Advocacy 101” by Results Canada).

 

 

After a break, we participated in a group engagement session, developing our own action plans for citizenship. This was a time for honest reflection and practical brainstorming — what issues matter to us, and how can we take the first steps toward change?

 

The evening consisted of a fancy dinner followed by a dance at Dow’s Lake Lagos Grill, where the food, music, and dancing made for a perfect send-off. Watching the sun set over the water with my new friends, I felt a deep sense of gratitude for the connections and memories we’d made. Honestly, it was a little bittersweet. Even if we didn’t even know each other for a full week, it felt like I’ve known them forever.

Group Photo of Table #11

 

Dance at Dow’s Lake Lagos Grill

 

Our final morning began with packing up and bringing our luggage to the lounge. We gathered in the auditorium for the Canadian Citizenship Ceremony — an incredibly moving experience. Judge Marie Senécal-Tremblay was there along with a few other people including 3 law clerks, an officer from the mounted police and an Indigenous knowledge-keeper. The ceremony was fully bilingual and so were the videos we had to watch. From my seat in the back, watching new Canadians take their oath alongside their families reminded me of the power and privilege of citizenship. I felt proud and inspired to be part of such a diverse and welcoming country.

Opening Speech of the Canadian Citizenship Ceremony

 

After a reception with the new Canadians, we had cake and lunch in the dining hall before returning to the auditorium for the closing ceremony. Provincial representatives gave their speeches, 3 scholarships were awarded (congratulations to the recipients!), and we took our final group photos. It was bittersweet — everyone was proud of what we’d accomplished, but sad to say goodbye.

 

Picture of the three recipients of the Rotary Club’s scholarship

 

As we boarded buses or met our families for the journey home (since some adventurers had to stay an extra night in Ottawa), I reflected on how much I’d learned, experienced and grown over just a few days. I left Ottawa with new friends from across Canada, a deeper understanding of citizenship, a renewed commitment to making a difference, and a beautiful lanyard that acts as testimony of my involvement in this program and is now one of my most prized possessions.

 

Adventure in Citizenship 2025 was truly transformative. The program balanced learning, culture, and fun, all while challenging us to think about our roles as citizens (although I would have preferred an earlier curfew, everyday was so exciting but so exhausting!). I am grateful to the Rotary Club for this opportunity and to every participant who made the experience unforgettable. I leave inspired, connected, and ready to carry forward the lessons of citizenship in my own community. To anyone who’s still having doubts about participating, don’t. This is truly one of the best programs I’ve ever been to — and I’ve been to a lot!