In a course unique to Barrie, a group of German exchange students are in the city as part of the Global Perspectives Program.
Global Perspectives is a five credit, specialized program geared towards high-achieving students in Barrie and the surrounding area and includes a trip to Barrie's twin city in Germany, Zweibrucken.
The large delegation of German students arrived in Barrie on Sept. 14.
"It's been 20 years and we're the only city in this entire great country that does anything like this," said Dave Morrison, chair of the International Relations Committee (IRC) who founded the program in conjunction with former Mayor Janice Laking and the city of Barrie IRC.
The Global Perspectives Program is run through the City of Barrie and Innisdale Secondary School in conjunction with the Universidad de Matanzas, Cuba and Helmholtz Gymnasium, Zweibruckuen, Germany.
The exchange students were formally welcomed at city hall Monday night just prior to the official council session.
Mayor Jeff Lehman thanked the delegation and host families in Barrie whose children will or already have spent a time in Germany.
The Mayor highlighted the value of over 20 years of student exchanges.
"A whole generation of our young people and a generation of your young people have had the opportunity to come back and forth between our two cities," Lehman said.
"In an increasingly interconnected global world, our challenges are global and the only way our young people are going to see those challenges, understand the commonalities and ultimately address them, give us our for all our future, is by working together."
Herr Mattias Eifler, Vice-Principal of Helmost Gymnasium, Zweibrucken Germany spoke on behalf of the delegation.
He wished Canada a belated 150th birthday and also spoke of the benefit of the exchange program.
The Vice Principal and teacher recounted the story of his barber, a Syrian refugee who walked 3,000 km with his pregnant wife and two-year-old daughter to escape Aleppo for a new 'safe and happy' life in Germany.
Eifler noted the many important values Canadians share with Germany and their strong sense of global responsibility, especially when it comes to immigration.
"In participating in this program these young people have taken an important step in becoming global citizens, despite their fears and doubts. They have dared to step into the unknown. They've taken the risk and chosen to follow their dreams. As teachers, their courage inspires us. That is why this program is dear to our hearts," Eifler told council
He highlighted some of the sights that the student delegation from Canada would experience during their visit to Zweibrucken in 2018 and he thanked the German and Canadian families who support the program.
He also thanked city council for its support of the exchange program and presented a gift to Mayor Lehman on behalf of the delegation.
"We cherish our relationship with your beautiful city," said Eifler.
