Leaving on a jet plane

Times Reporter 

 

Students from both Holy Cross Collegiate (HCC) and Strathmore High School (SHS) took a trip of a lifetime on June 21 when they flew to Vancouver by private jet. 

Nick Brassad, Mack Beech and Robert Jacobs from SHS, along with Sarah McDonald and Alex Glydon from HCC, were picked by their teachers to go on the trip. 

“They were picked because we wanted students who would do a good job of representing Holy Cross.  We wanted students who were in good standing with the school and who were also good role models to their peers.  They were both very deserving of this opportunity,” said HCC Principal Lavern Evans about his two students being picked. 

The trip was organized by Mayor Steve Grajczyk, Harrison Gray and Don Murray, and was created as a way to show good students who may not always be recognized that their hard work does pay off. 

“Just thought it was a good idea, people don’t get to do these kinds of things…it’s a fun ride,” said Murray, who flew the kids on his jet. 

“It’s exciting to ride on a plane to Vancouver, I don’t think I have actually ever done something like this,” said Jacobs.

“Exciting, I don’t know how else to put it,” said Beech before leaving. 

“I’m really excited and surprised,” said McDonald. It was her first trip to Vancouver. 

“It’s a real big opportunity,” said Glydon. 

At 9 a.m. the students and the Mayor left in Murray’s CJ3 jet from his private airstrip. According to Grajczyk’s Facebook page the trip took an hour and 10 minutes, and they landed at the Millionaire’s Club to find a nine passenger Cadillac SUV waiting for them. 

The group then drove to downtown Vancouver, had breakfast and went to English Bay to go on a harbour tour. They spent the greater part of the afternoon exploring Granville Island. 

“We saw flute players and a performer on a ten foot high unicycle. Alex Glydon was even a participant in this act,” said Grajczyk on Facebook.

“We all enjoyed fish and chips for dinner -which wasn’t cheap I might add- and then Don Murray picked us up and drove us down to East Hastings where the students got to see the devastating effects of drug and alcohol abuse. We saw drug dealers and people drinking alcohol and shooting up drugs. This was an eye opening experience for the students and they got to see what happens when alcohol is abused and drugs are used.” 

“After our East Hastings experience, we moved on to China Town and Gasoline Alley. We made our way back to the jet and said goodbye to Vancouver. It took us one hour and 17 minutes to get home. I’m not sure why it took longer on the way back because we were travelling downhill.”

Grajczyk said they arrived home at 8:30 p.m. and that the students were both fun and a pleasure to spend the day with.