From November 18th to 20th, our grade 10 class explored Toronto on an exciting and educational field trip. The trip offered a mix of culture, sightseeing, and some downtime with friends. Here's a recap of what we did.

 

Day 1: Monday, November 18th 

 

The day began early, with students meeting in the Upper Cafeteria to drop off luggage before heading to class. We boarded the bus around 10:00, and the journey to Toronto was filled with music and conversation. By 3:30/ 4:00, we arrived at the Chelsea Hotel for check-in, where we settled into our rooms and prepared for the evening’s activities.

 

After checking in, we went for dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory on The Esplanade. The food was delicious, and it was a great place to relax and chat before heading to our next stop: the Scotiabank Arena. There, we watched the Toronto Raptors face off against the Indiana Pacers. It was an exciting game, and the atmosphere in the arena was electric we even saw the Raptors win and a game losing streak. After the game, we returned to the hotel.

 

In the evening, I spent some time with my friends Mitch and Max, setting up a PlayStation in our room. We played games and enjoyed the chance to unwind after a busy day.

 

Day 2: Tuesday, November 19th

 

The day started early with a 7:15 AM wake-up call, followed by a satisfying all-you-can-eat breakfast at the hotel. We then headed to the Blackhurst Cultural Centre for a guided tour, where we learned more about the history and culture of Toronto and the many black historical figures. 

 

After the tour, we had free time for lunch at the Eaton Centre, one of Toronto’s largest shopping malls. It was a great opportunity to do some shopping, and I ended up buying a new pair of headphones. While at the mall, we also stopped by Best Buy, where we spent some time playing on the test gaming setup they had on display. It was a fun way to relax and enjoy some hands-on gaming.

 

In the afternoon, we visited the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, where we took a guided tour of the building. We learned about the provincial government and the legislative process, which was both interesting and informative and learned that kids can also work in the building as ushers, helping deliver messages around the courtroom and get things for the speaker. 

 

Later, we went to Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, where we had the chance to explore the various exhibits, including massive tanks filled with fish and marine life. I enjoyed taking photos and practising some street photography-styled photos, which I’ve recently started to get into.

For dinner, we ate at the NBA Courtside Restaurant, which had a great atmosphere and excellent food. Following dinner, we attended a performance of Come From Away at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. The show was amazing. Live musicians were playing the background music and the beauty of the theatre itself was a beautiful venue, that had art from the 1800s and was based on that time era's style.

 

Wednesday, November 20th

 

On our final day, we woke up for another breakfast at the hotel before checking out of our rooms at 9:00 and my roommates and I left some Lindor chocolate for the cleaners to thank them with a note. We then travelled to Kensington Market, a unique and vibrant part of the city known for its mix of shops, cafes, and street vendors. I was particularly impressed by the variety of stores but most of the market stores were closed when we went, a group of friends and I went to a retro store and I found an Aresanl 16/17 jersey in the store and got, what a find. We then got food from a chicken shop where they had a deal for 20 dollars you can feed 4 people and the food was worth way more than 20 dollars. It was also a great spot for practising street photography, as there were plenty of interesting scenes to capture we even grabbed a group photo in front of a graffitied wall. After this, we all heard back to the bus to head back home. By mid-afternoon, we were on the bus and making our way back to Immaculata, where we arrived around 6:30.

 

The Toronto field trip was an unforgettable experience. It was a perfect blend of culture, entertainment, and time spent with friends. From the NBA game and the aquarium to the shopping in Kensington Market, the trip was both fun and educational. I look forward to future opportunities like this and am glad I got to experience Toronto with my classmates.