For 17 kids it was the experience of a lifetime.

On Nov. 9 a group of senior students from Wilberforce Elementary School travelled to Ottawa to attend WE Day for the first time.

The trip was led by teacher Laurie Bowker who has taken classes from JDH Elementary School to WE Day events in Toronto in the past.

The Ottawa event included special guest Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Bowker.

The teacher was thrilled to have a former WES student attend the trip with the students.

“What’s really neat is Tessa Barnes who has been on Me to We trips in Africa came with us” said Bowker. “She was a big inspiration for the kids.”

Following the trip to Ottawa the students decided to take on a local initiative and collect donations for the local food bank.

Called We Scare Hunger more than 300 items were collected from the student body of 72 kids.

“It really feels good to help” said the group when asked about their initiative.

Inspired by We Day the group plans to continue doing good work and has set their focus on the issue of water.