Hail to the Chief Page: Senate Swears In its Treasured Helpers
See him on the street and Ali Boussi could easily pass for just another mild-mannered university student.
But when he strides into the Senate Chamber — impeccably dressed in an immaculate black suit — he is transformed into a noble agent of Canadian democracy.
On February 17, Boussi was sworn in as the Senate’s Chief Page, putting him at the front of the Red Chamber’s page corps — a diverse group of 15 keen, bright and accomplished university students acting under the direction of the Usher of the Black Rod.
It’s the Windsor, Ontario man’s third year on Parliament Hill — which is as much of a surprise to him as anyone.
“I’ve always liked the political environment, but I never thought I’d one day be working there,” Boussi told SenCAPlus, fresh from a Senate shift.
“I always wanted to work on the Hill.”
Boussi is studying biomedical sciences at the University of Ottawa; the Page Program became his path to a political education and insider knowledge of “what happens behind the scenes.”
Those insights — gleaned from close observation of the leaders shaping Canada’s future — have him considering a career in the public service, where his academic talents can intersect with his institutional savvy.
Boussi said the Senators take an interest in their young helpers, who greet them as they enter the Chamber and ensure they have the documents and support they need to work at peak efficiency.
And when the sittings are over they’ll often stop to chat with the pages. Senators and pages who live far from Ottawa quickly find common ground, whether they’re pining for the prairies or homesick for the gentle bray of a coastal foghorn.
“They really care about the Page Program,” Boussi said. “We do have some really good relationships with Senators.”
Off the Hill, the pages’ unobtrusive presence can morph into outright invisibility when they trade their James Bond attire for street clothes.
“Sometimes the Senators will tell us, ‘We didn’t even recognize you!’ when they see us walking down the Hill,” Boussi said.
Inside, however, they are valued, praised and indispensable.
“It’s something that I really like, that I really enjoy,” Boussi said.
Learn more about the Page Program.
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Hail to the Chief Page: Senate Swears In its Treasured Helpers
See him on the street and Ali Boussi could easily pass for just another mild-mannered university student.
But when he strides into the Senate Chamber — impeccably dressed in an immaculate black suit — he is transformed into a noble agent of Canadian democracy.
On February 17, Boussi was sworn in as the Senate’s Chief Page, putting him at the front of the Red Chamber’s page corps — a diverse group of 15 keen, bright and accomplished university students acting under the direction of the Usher of the Black Rod.
It’s the Windsor, Ontario man’s third year on Parliament Hill — which is as much of a surprise to him as anyone.
“I’ve always liked the political environment, but I never thought I’d one day be working there,” Boussi told SenCAPlus, fresh from a Senate shift.
“I always wanted to work on the Hill.”
Boussi is studying biomedical sciences at the University of Ottawa; the Page Program became his path to a political education and insider knowledge of “what happens behind the scenes.”
Those insights — gleaned from close observation of the leaders shaping Canada’s future — have him considering a career in the public service, where his academic talents can intersect with his institutional savvy.
Boussi said the Senators take an interest in their young helpers, who greet them as they enter the Chamber and ensure they have the documents and support they need to work at peak efficiency.
And when the sittings are over they’ll often stop to chat with the pages. Senators and pages who live far from Ottawa quickly find common ground, whether they’re pining for the prairies or homesick for the gentle bray of a coastal foghorn.
“They really care about the Page Program,” Boussi said. “We do have some really good relationships with Senators.”
Off the Hill, the pages’ unobtrusive presence can morph into outright invisibility when they trade their James Bond attire for street clothes.
“Sometimes the Senators will tell us, ‘We didn’t even recognize you!’ when they see us walking down the Hill,” Boussi said.
Inside, however, they are valued, praised and indispensable.
“It’s something that I really like, that I really enjoy,” Boussi said.
Learn more about the Page Program.