On a recent trip to Ottawa, the capital city of Canada, I was reminded how incredible it is to be a Canadian citizen and how proud I am of the role that Canada plays on the global stage. As I was visiting various tourist attractions and significant sites around the city, I couldn’t help but reflect on all of the connections to the content of various online high school courses offered at Ontario Virtual School and their relevance to shaping students’ sense of identity, both nationally and internationally.
Civics and Citizenship
One of the sites I visited was Parliament Hill, which is the home of Canada’s federal government. Here, not only do representatives gather from across Canada to make laws that affect the daily lives of Canadians, it is also a National Historic Site, making it an ideal location for gatherings and celebrations. The significance of Parliament Hill is a concept that is studied in Gr. 10 Civics and Citizenship (CHV20), where students actively explore the rights and responsibilities associated with being an active citizen in a democratic society. Since OVS is an accredited virtual high school in Ontario, completing this course would not only foster civic engagement, it would also count towards the Ontario high school diploma requirements.
Canadian History
Exploring the exhibits at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Québec – just across the Ottawa River – was a humbling experience. One of the exhibits, the Canadian History Hall, features stories and artefacts of the individuals and groups who helped shape Canada. Beginning with the creation stories of various Indigenous communities all the way to the vision for the future of Canada, there were many connections to the Gr. 10 History Since World War I (CHC2D). In this course, which is also offered in French, students study the social, economic, and political developments and events and their impact on the lives of different groups in Canada since 1914. Once again, not only does this course empower students to see how the past continues to inform the future, but it also counts towards their OSSD.
French Language Courses
As someone who has learned French as a second language and who has a passion for learning and teaching French, I thoroughly enjoyed walking around the ByWard Market, surrounded by the sights and sounds of French. Since almost 15% of Ottawa’s population have indicated having French as their mother tongue as well as its proximity to Québec, it makes sense that Ottawa has a Bilingualism Policy. This means that having a working knowledge of French is vital to one’s academic, professional and social life in global cities, such as Ottawa. Ontario Virtual School recognizes the importance of this and has made it a priority to offer a variety of Core French and French Immersion courses. While only Gr. 9 Core French is required to graduate in high school, there is no doubt that continuing to study French through high school offers a competitive edge to studying and working, both nationally and internationally.
Making Connections
Sometimes when we are taking a course or learning a new subject, there can be a disconnect between what is being taught and how it connects to the real world. Some of us are fortunate enough to have many opportunities to see learning in action, and for the rest of us, we may not see those connections made until later in our lives. No matter the timeline, the point is that learning makes us better: better at understanding, better at empathizing, better at advocating, and ultimately better at being citizens in our local communities and beyond.
Take the Next Step
If you’re ready to take action and make connections between your learning and the real world, then take a moment to explore the enriching online high school courses that Ontario Virtual School has to offer and register today!
Resources:
Canada, G. A. (2024, August 1). Canada and the United Nations. GAC. https://www.international.gc.ca/world-monde/international_relations-relations_internationales/un-onu/index.aspx?lang=eng
Canadian Museum of History – Musée canadien de l’histoire. (2024, October 21). Canadian History Hall | Canadian Museum of History. Canadian Museum of History. https://www.historymuseum.ca/exhibitions/canadian-history-hall
Clerk, O. O. T. C. (n.d.). Administrative policies. City of Ottawa. https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/city-manager-administration-and-policies/policies/administrative-policies#section-dc63e454-ee77-4445-828d-9424cf65a555
Earning your high school diploma. (n.d.-c). ontario.ca. https://www.ontario.ca/page/earning-your-high-school-diploma
Learn about parliament. (n.d.). https://lop.parl.ca/sites/Learn/default/en_CA
Written by Katelyn Van Hezewyk (OVS Teacher)