Call it a working holiday.

A group of five visitors from Scotland arrived in Lethbridge this week, and while they’ve been enjoying the sights like any other tourists, they’re also getting a closer look at how this community works.

They found the opportunity to visit Canada through the annual Rotary Foundation Study Exchange program. Last year, the Rotarians sent a number of Albertans to Scotland and this year they brought the Scottish contingent here to not only be tourists, but gain a better understanding of how people in other cultures do jobs similar to theirs back home.

Maura Edwards, a dentist in Scotland, noted dental health-care services are not included in Alberta’s universal health care, as it is in the United Kingdom.

The group, which will spend three days and four nights in Lethbridge as part of their Canadian tour, said their initial impressions of the city were all positive.

“Whoop-Up Drive was unique. We also went over to the Rotary Plaza, and Galt (Gardens), and I believe you’re very proud of what’s happening (here) – that’s what it’s all about,” said Jimmy Johnston, a former school principal of 31 years and now chief executive of his own company.

When asked what stands out about Lethbridge, the answers varied from the design of the city to the amount of trucks and RVs and, of course, our famous High Level Bridge.

“The railway bridge is quite spectacular, a real icon. We’ve got the Forth Rail Bridge in Scotland, on the east coast, between Edinburgh and Fife, but I can see a similarity,” said Edwards.

Wallace Turpie has spent his time in Lethbridge looking at some of the local hostels and walking around Henderson Lake.

“The planning and design of the city, it’s much different than back home. I think that’s purely because of the availability of land, much more space. The suburbs are a bit more spaced out, and the roads are bigger and wider,” said Turpie, who works in human resources and social services in Scotland.

Martin Duggan admitted he wasn’t sure about wanting to take part in the exchange at first until a family member convinced him what a great time participants have.

“I actually found out I was coming the exact same day I found out my divorce came through, so, (a) great day,” he said, with a smile.

The visitors also got to take in a slice of Canadiana, a Lethbridge Hurricanes hockey game Wednesday.

“It was a bit unlucky that the Hurricanes got canned. It’s the first hockey game we’ve been to, we really enjoyed it. (The big sports back home are) football, soccer, golf, sailing, rugby as well,” said Turpie.

Robin Hood, a past-president of the Rotary Club of Lethbridge, pointed out Rotarians are not eligible to participate in the program.

“The team leader, Jimmy Johnston, is a Rotarian, but the rest of them are non-Rotarians. They’re people between 25 and 40 in some sort of profession, and this is to learn how their vocation is done in a different country, and give them the opportunity to network, learn the culture,” said Hood, who escorted the group of Albertans to Scotland.

Originally posted 2009-04-15 21:30:15. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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