News & Events

Elmwood Students Invited to Participate in Announcement on Parliament Hill

On Wednesday, October 26, 2011, Elmwood School’s Grade 5 students were invited to Parliament Hill to meet with the Honorable Beverly J. Oda, Canada’s International Cooperation Minister, Ms. Josette Sheeran, the Executive Director of the World Food Programme, and Mr. Jim Cornelius, the Executive Director of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. Following this meeting, the Grade 5 students were present as Minister Oda announced that Canada has committed $350 million over the next five years in support of food security, as well as maternal and child health care around the world. Minister Oda and Ms. Sheeran spoke of the difficult decisions many families have to make when they are unable to provide enough food for all of their children, and how often the food that is available is given to male children first.

The support that Canada is giving to the United Nations World Food Programme will increase the number of people who receive aid, which totaled approximately 109.3 million people in 75 countries in 2010. Much of the support is directed toward school children, particularly girls, in order to improve their learning and concentration, as well as their attendance. This is a key concern in terms of international development as children who are hungry are unable to learn.

Our students were astounded to learn about how many people go without proper nutrition each day and had many questions about why people go hungry and how we can make a difference. Minister Oda thanked them for their attendance as they represent the future of Canada and will soon be the people in charge of ensuring that we take time to help others in need, regardless of who they are or where they live. Given our students’ response to what they learned today, our future is in good hands.

Ms. Josette Sheeran, Executive Director of the World Food Programme, Honorable Beverly J. Oda, Canada’s International Cooperation Minister, and Elmwood Grade 5 students

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