2026 Legislative Assembly of Ontario Community Tour for Newcomer Youth

On Wesdnesday, August 5, 2026, the Mandarin Youth Group of the Toronto Community & Culture Centre took a trip past Queen's Park for a guided tour of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario; one of Ontario's most culturally and presently significant buildings.

Following the guide, our group learned about the history of the building and more about Ontario as a whole, including our two flags, provincial flower (the trillium), gemstone (amenthyst), as well as the nature around Ontario that inspired our coat of arms. We also learned of the history of the Speakers and their many portraits adorning the walls.

We also learned of the more recent history and significance of women and their roles in both federal and provincial government, in addition to our current and very first female Speaker, the Honourable Donna Skelly.

The tour took our group of youth through both old and new architecture of the building, detailing the artists and insightful reasons behind their design choices, as well as the work put in by the countless carvers, masons, and groups of workers that contructed the magnificent building.

To finish off the tour, the group was invited into the grand legislative chamber, providing a valuable overview of the symbolism for the customs and layout of the room and its artwork.

We thank our youth group for joining us on this tour, as well as our guide and all the staff that made this wonderful trip possible, and we hope to continue exploring Canada and its extensive history in order to educate and include our youth, especially newcomers, in Ontario and its processes!