My experience at Queens Park Press Gallery
Funny story
In my Journalism class, we were presented with a unique opportunity to explore the Press Gallery at Queens Park. This experience took place on Monday, November 18, 2019, and I was accompanied by my friends.
The day commenced with a press conference featuring the Minister of Education, Stephen Lecce. Unfortunately, I found myself running late for the event, and while crossing the road from the University of Toronto to Queens Park, I narrowly escaped being hit by a bus.
Upon arrival, I acquired a visitor pass marked with a distinctive yellow label, granting us access to the Press entrances. Here's the intriguing twist to the story.
The day prior to the visit, I informed Prabhmeet Singh Sarkaria, the MPP for Brampton South, about our impending trip to Queens Park. Remarkably, he requested the names of me and my friends who would be attending on Monday.
In response, I submitted the names Mariyah and Maha, as they had been confirmed to shadow Prabhmeet on that day. However, Mariyah had to cancel at the last moment due to unforeseen circumstances. As I entered Queens Park, Prabhmeet recognized me and waved. Filled with apprehension about what to do, I pondered the situation.
In a surprising turn of events, during the proceedings, Prabhmeet stood up and announced, "Today, we are joined by journalism students from Ryerson: Kuwarjeet, Maha, and Mariyah." The hilarity of the situation struck me deeply, given that Mariyah was absent and yet Prabhmeet made an official proclamation of her presence.
As applause erupted around me, I couldn't help but burst into laughter, aware of the truth behind the announcement. This led to a barrage of questions from curious individuals, inquiring how Prabhmeet had knowledge of their names. To which I nonchalantly replied, "Because I had sent him the names."
Later on, we seized the opportunity to meet Amarjot Sandhu, the MPP for Brampton South. I creatively featured him in my photojournalism assignment, offering a glimpse into a day in his life as an MPP.
Following our visit to the office, as we were leaving, the Minister of Education unexpectedly approached my friend Maha.
Engaging us in conversation, he inquired, "Hey, I noticed you were there. Where are you guys from?" Our response, "We are journalism students from Ryerson," sparked an engaging dialogue. The Minister shared insights about his background in media before entering politics.
We were fortunate to obtain his contact details, paving the way for future inquiries regarding our upcoming stories. Despite the valuable connections made during this visit, I still find immense amusement in the incident of the official announcement that included Mariyah.