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France field trip detoured to Italy

St. John Paul II Collegiate students aren’t saying, “Au revoir” to international field trips due to recent terrorist attacks, they are saying, “Ciao” to a different adventure.

St. John Paul II Collegiate students aren’t saying, “Au revoir” to international field trips due to recent terrorist attacks, they are saying, “Ciao” to a different adventure.

An international trip to France in March involving approximately 34 students has been detoured to Italy due to the November terrorism attacks in Paris.

“With these tragedies that happened in Paris we thought for the safety of the kids we wanted the parents to revisit whether they wanted to stay signed up or to withdraw,” said Gerry Zanoni, SJPII teacher and the trip co-ordinator. “I told them my opinion is I feel safe, but it is up to the parents. These aren’t my children.”

On Nov. 13, 130 people were killed during terrorist attacks in Paris and the northern suburb of St. Denis. The Calgary Board of Education voted on Dec. 14 to suspend all field trips to France. As well, the Calgary Catholic School District cancelled all international trips.

Zanoni stressed at no point did the trip get cancelled.

Initial plans were to visit Paris, Lourdes in the south of France and Barcelona, Spain, all of which are destinations with a strong Catholic base and history.

Now the students are landing in Zurich, Switzerland, spending some days in the Swiss city of Lucerne before heading off to Venice, Florence and Rome.

“Traditionally, we go to Italy, but every two years we try and do something different,” Zanoni said. “This (Italy) was our back-up. We always want a faith, culture component in our trip. It’s not a second-choice, it’s just a different choice.”

Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools trustees was officially brought up to speed about the changes in the trip at its December meeting.

“Gerry was really proactive,” said CTR Catholic superintendent of schools Scott Morrison “He thought ‘if my trip was going to go, the best chance was not go to France where the hot spots are.’”

Morrison said the division studies the Canadian Foreign Affairs web site, which not only gives travel advisories but also wise practices when travelling.

The web site stated on Monday, “Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)” in regards to travel to France.

For trips to Italy, Switzerland and Spain the site stated: “Exercise normal security precautions.”

The division heeds the government’s advice.

“One of those practices is avoid major tourist destinations during major holidays – what have we been doing (in the past)? Going to Vatican at Easter,” Morrison said. “We have identified that and if we go to the major sites, go at those times when it not peak tourist attraction.

“Sure, go to the Vatican but do it a week after Easter.”

The SJPII trip will go to the Vatican, but the students will not be there during the busy Good Friday or Easter Sunday.

Morrison said the division also had a solid working arrangement with EF Tours, which co-ordinates educational tours in making it easy to reroute the trip with no fuss as well as making it safe.

“Sure we train our teachers to make the trip as safe as possible, but there is an EF co-ordinator who does this for a living,” Morrison said.

He admits he’s heard the odd rumbling that by not going to France, the division is allowing terrorists to set the agenda.

“I’ve heard the ‘don’t let the terrorists win’ mentality,” Morrison said. “What I say, somewhat tongue in cheek, is ‘Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools is not fighting terrorism, we are keeping kids safe.’”

Meanwhile, Foothills School Division gave the thumbs up at a special meeting for two separate Foothills Composite High School trips to Italy and Spain, respectively, during Easter.

Comp culinary arts teacher Greg Poile is one of the organizers behind the “Foodies” trip to Italy.

“We had quite a few parents at the meeting Monday and Mr. Bailey (Foothills School Division superintendent of school John Bailey) reiterated the board’s position is travel will go forward barring any future incidences.”

Poile said basically unless the government of Canada says it is not safe to travel to those countries, the board will allow travel to those countries.

The Comp is also following the advice of not visiting the Vatican during the busy Easter days.

A similar ‘Foodies’ trip was held in France last year – after the terrorist attack at Charlie Hebdo magazine.

Poile said there were absolutely no issues on the trip.

To visit the Foreign Affairs travel web site go to travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories

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