It’s hard to believe the first day of Session is only four days away! Every day at Session is jam-packed, but the first day is particularly full, with getting settled in and learning parliamentary rules while having our first two sittings. To help you get ready for the excitement and chaos that is Day 1, here's what a typical first day of Session looks like.
8:00 AM - Lower Mainland members and their interior billets grab breakfast and their bags, ready for Session.
8:45 AM - Lower Mainland members and Interior billets meet at the bus station
Soon after, the buses will leave and we'll be on our way to Session!
Key to Success: Wear your parliamentary dress in the morning, since there will be no time to change at the hotel before the first sitting of the Session.
11:00 AM - Members on the bus catch the ferry to the island.
Enjoy the free time on the ferry to meet your fellow parliamentarians, grab some food, and relax & rest up in preparation for the week ahead
1:00 PM - Members arrive at the hotel, and Island members begin to arrive as well. Each member gets their keys and takes their stuff to their room (there is no time to get changed here though)
Key to Success: There are a lot of members to process - be patient, but efficient, and take the extra time to get to know the folks around you.
2:00 PM - Members are welcomed to the legislature
When we arrive at the legislature, we first receive a tour around the building, and a safety speech that introduces key figures, outlines BCYP's rules, and provides information for emergency situations.
4:00 PM - Our first sitting begins!
The first sitting mostly involves the formal opening ceremony, including all BCYP members signing an Oath, and the selection of a Speaker.
Key to Success: The script for the ceremony is written out in your standing orders, starting on page 11.
6:00 PM - Dinner time!
Some of the dinners at Session are arranged by the Minister of Sessional Affairs, and some are free choice. On the first night, the dinner is arranged, and each member will be eating with their mentor/mentee - it's a great chance to catch up after a busy first day and ask any questions that have come up.
7:30 PM - Our second sitting!
For our second sitting, Opening Ceremonies are all over, and we start debate. The first debate in the House isn't really a debate at all - in response to the Throne Speech, each member rises and introduces themselves to the House in lieu of debate. The introductions are often simple, and can include your parliamentary experience, service experience, or other interests.
The Catch: The reply to the Throne Speech is also a competition - since each member must rise to introduce themselves, the Government and Opposition sides of the House race each other to see who can have all their members introduced first.
Key to Success: If you're like me and tend to dislike this kind of forced introduction, you may want to think ahead of time of a few things to say, so that you can jump up whenever you feel comfortable and aren't left as one of the last few members under pressure to win it. And remember, the 'no names' rule applies to yourself as well!
10:00 PM - Evening Activity: Team Trivia Challenge
Each night, there will be an evening activity offered upon return to the hotel. Our first night, it will be a team trivia challenge. There will be teams, there will be trivia, and there will be friendly competition - need I say more?
Key to Success: This is a MAJOR key. Evening activities are completely optional. Session can get intense, and these evening activities can sometimes just make a long day even longer. So, feel free to take the evening to take care of yourself - read a good book or go to sleep early. Self-care is a MAJOR key to success. But, if you feel up to it, I highly encourage attending evening activities. It's when you best get to know people and when you see people outside of the context of debate. At the end of the day, you do you.
1:00AM - Curfew for minors!
If you are under 19 years of age, by 1:00AM you must have checked in with the supervisors in the lobby. You can check in any time during the evening, but once in you cannot leave the hotel again until the next morning.
And that's the end of day one! It may seem busy but it is only the beginning of what Session has in store. #gethyped