Maple Leaf at Montreal Symposium
Thirteen Maple Leaf students set off in November for the Secondary Schools United Nations Symposium (SSUNS) in Montreal, Canada. SSUNS is one of the top Model UN exercises in North America and is hosted annually by students of McGill University. This four-day conference is designed to simulate the United Nations and provides students with an opportunity to develop debate, diplomacy and public speaking skills.
Ms. Grace Cullen and Mr. Nkosi Wiley were the teachers who led the Maple Leaf delegation. The team was chosen to represent Spain and prepared themselves by researching Spain’s position on specific issues in order to develop resolutions based on their policies.
Suryaa Maharaj of Grade 11 was Maple Leaf’s head delegate at this year’s conference and was also on the crisis committee for the Italian Ethiopian war. She attended the 2016 conference which enabled her to assist with the 2017 team’s preparations.
Siddhartha Rentala (Gr. 11) was another one of our top delegates who had participated in international MUN conferences in the past when he studied in Belgium. He represented SPECPOL (Special Political Decolonization Committee) where he debated topics that included; Civilian Protection in Peacekeeping Missions, Management of Natural Resources and Negative Effects of Atomic Radiation.
Victoria Ferreira (GR. 10) debated environmental issues on the United Nations Environment Programme Committee. Three of her topics for debate included The Role of Nuclear Energy in Sustainable Development, Overpopulation and Resource Exploitation, and Illegal Wildlife Trade.
Despite their hectic conference schedule, the students managed to fit in a tour of the McGill University campus and see the sights of Montreal including Old Montreal, Notre Dame Basilica and the Montreal Science Centre.
