The HSO’s Ben Weiss was honoured to be invited to address the 200 or so Rotary Club youth gathered in Ottawa on May 25, 2025, for the opening day of the Rotary Club’s annual Adventure in Citizenship conference.

The day also included a visit to the House of Commons by the conference’s 16-18 year olds, the day before the arrival of King Charles III and the Opening of Parliament.

The “Adventure in Citizenship” program was established by the Rotary Club of Ottawa in 1951.  Each year, approximately 200 senior high school students, from across Canada, spend four days in Ottawa experiencing tours, lectures, and social events designed to enhance their understanding and appreciation of Canadian citizenship.

The students, among the nation’s best and brightest, are selected by community Rotary Clubs from across Canada.

Public figures including former Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, the Rt. Hon. Joe Clark, and the Hon. Ed Broadbent are among those who participated in the program as students.

The HSO’s Ben Weiss addressed the students on the morning of opening day with a one-hour presentation on the history of Ottawa, its journey becoming Canada’s capital, and the importance of preserving our democratic institutions.  A large part of Ben’s discussion on the Ottawa area’s history focused on diversity and the impact on the Algonquin Anishnaabe people.