Chatham-Kent student serving as a Page at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario

A local Grade 8 student, Mackenzie Rankin has been selected to serve as a Legislative Page at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in Toronto.

Rankin lives with her family in the Dover Centre / Oungah area and is currently in Grade 8 at McNaughton Avenue Public School in Chatham.

Provincial officials say during her term of duty, Rankin has been serving as a messenger on the floor of the Legislative Chamber, meeting key parliamentary figures and is learning about Ontario’s parliamentary system of government.

She is currently completing a five-week term of duty.

Each Legislative Page earned their spot in the program by submitting an application that included an essay outlining their achievements, involvements and suitability for the program.

“Each Page must study and learn the faces, names and locations of all the MPPs before arriving at Queen’s Park for their first day,” Provincial officials said in a media release.

“Legislative Pages selected from different ridings come together at Queen’s Park; they develop long lasting friendships and meet fellow students with similar interests as they participate in this unique educational program.”

During a typical day in the program, Pages arrive at Queen’s Park at approximately 8 a.m., dress in their uniforms and then prepare the Legislative Chamber for the morning’s debates.

“As the day progresses, Pages are involved in a number of activities including: delivering messages and water for the MPPs in the Chamber, taking classes in legislative process and mathematics and meeting with key legislative players such as the party leaders and the Speaker of the House. The Legislative Assembly is excited to welcome the students chosen to participate this Spring.”

Rankin is set to return home on May 19, 2023.

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