Quesnel School District 28 has had an ongoing six-year, sister-school relationship with Kangqiao (kung chow) school in Pudong District of Shanghai, China.
Each March a few students and teachers have traveled to the Kangqiao school and visited and participated in academic and cultural activities as guests of the school.
On three occasions, staff and students of Kangqiao traveled to Quesnel as part of the reciprocal agreement.
Canada is quickly becoming a popular destination for Chinese travellers now that the Chinese government has declared Canada an official and approved travel destination, Robin Hay, district principal, International program said.
The current group of 36 Chinese students and four staff are in Quesnel for 12 days and are participating in school classes, tours of industry and the community, art and language programs, music sessions, ice hockey games, swimming and skating and especially opportunities to learn a bit about our First Nations culture and traditions.
Recently at Correlieu senior secondary school, Ralph Weaver, one of the Aboriginal educators and support workers along with other staff and some helping students, spent two sessions with the Kangqiao students.
The staff taught the Chinese students the cultural significance of the dream catcher and each Chinese student made their own personal dream catcher.
Fifteen-year-old Blair
said she found Canada
very beautiful.
Her goal on the trip was to learn more about Canada and make friends here.
“I’ve gone skiing for the first time,” she said with a smile.
“I love the big snow.”
George said this was his first time in Canada and he was a little bit happy and a lot excited.
“I’m very pleased to be here,” he said.
Also included in the lessons were cultural and historical background information on Aboriginal history in our region of B.C.
Later in March, a group of 23 students and eight adults – a combination of staff and parents – will make a return trip to the Kangqiao school and participate in similar activities from a Chinese perspective. The cost of travel for the Quesnel group is paid entirely by those participating.
