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École Père Mercure acceuille La Grande Traversée

With plenty of pancakes, École Père Mercure showed a group of travellers some Saskatchewan hospitality. The travellers were participants in La Grande Traversée, a cross-Canada bicycle tour that started in Vancouver.

With plenty of pancakes, École Père Mercure showed a group of travellers some Saskatchewan hospitality.

The travellers were participants in La Grande Traversée, a cross-Canada bicycle tour that started in Vancouver. Students, along with some adults, travel on bicycles and travellers stop and sleep at francophone schools, until they reach the Maritimes. This year’s tour began April 29 and should finish June 16 in Prince Edward Island.

Participants, who are between Grades 8 and 12, attend francophone schools, and are subject to training programs hosted by the schools. Forty-six students, along with about 20 adults, stopped by the French school.

École Père Mercure hosted La Grande Traversée Thursday before the group continued its Saskatchewan leg of the tour onto Regina. The school cooked up a pancake breakfast, and La Grande Traversée gave a presentation.

“It’s a good opportunity for our kids to see what other kids are doing and what opportunities there are or them in francophone schools in the future,” said principal Julie Lemire.

The presentation involved introducing the participants, promoting active lifestyles and entertaining Père Mercure students. Grade 1 student Jordyn Hurley and a Grande Traversée participant raced around the gym on small bikes.

La Grande Traversée sometimes picks up students from schools as it travels across Canada, but Père Mercure students didn’t go this year, Lemire said. Most students at the school are elementary-age. Some student could participate in the future.

“We’re very happy to host La Grande Traversée,” Lemire said.