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ST. THOMAS YOUTH CHOIR

PERFORMING TOUR TO THE EAST COAST

JUNE 27 – JULY 8, 2003

6:00am - 1 – 47 passenger coach to arrive in St. Thomas (at the Shoppers Drugmart Plaza – corner of First Ave and Elm Street) to load luggage and passengers

- everyone to bring a packed lunch today

6:30am - board coach and depart St. Thomas for Quebec City

- stops will be made enroute for to purchase meals and to stretch you legs

6:15pm - arrive at your dinner location – Rivoli Restaurant (located just outside the St. Louis gate on Grand Allee)

6:30pm - group dinner begins

7:30pm - after dinner depart for your hotel 8:00pm - estimated time of arrival at the Hotel Classique in Ste. Foy to check in for a 2 night stay (hotel has an indoor pool)

Day 2 – Saturday June 28 - Quebec City

7:30am - breakfast at the hotel this morning will be American plated

8:30am - step-on-guide to meet group at the hotel to begin a ½ day of sight seeing to the Beaupre Coast

- drive along Old King’s Road with a stop at Montmorency Falls and Chez Marie’s for a snack of fresh bread and maple butter from the outdoor ovens
- your trip will also include a visit to the beautiful St. Anne Basilica where the group will be performing during mass, a visit to Alphonse Pare’s Woodworking shop to see a demonstration and the Albert Gilles Copper Studio, where you will be able to complete a "take home project" - a

stop will be made to purchase lunch during the tour around the Basilica

2:00pm - conclude your tour within the Old City – St. John Gate and make your way to Dufferin Terrace and Upper town where you will have free time to explore and shop

4:00pm - meet your coach at a central location (coach may not be required for transfer – group to advise pending weather conditions) and transfer to the Plains of Abraham

4:30pm - arrive on the Plains of Abraham at Martello Tower 2

re-live life as it was during the War of 1812 at Soldiers of the Tower - learn about defence engineering and experience an astonishing adventure in a tower that bares witness to the past. Sound effects, lighting, historic artifacts and artillery pieces enhance the setting of this historic tower

6:00pm - program concludes and transfer to Les Voutes du Cavour Restaurant - located in a cave underneath Place Royale

6:30pm - enjoy a group dinner this evening

7:30pm - after dinner you will have free time to explore Lower Town in chaperoned groups

8:30pm - arrive at the Old Port dock for boarding

9:00pm - group to enjoy an evening dance cruise on Le Coudrier

11:00pm - cruise ends, board your coach and return to your hotel for overnight accommodation

Day 3 – Sunday June 29 - To Moncton

7:30am - breakfast at the hotel this morning will be American plated

8:30am - hotel check out and loading of the coach

9:00am - board your coach and depart Quebec City for Moncton, NB

- stops will be made enroute to purchase lunch, dinner, snacks and to stretch your legs (remember to set your watches ahead one hour when crossing the Quebec / New Brunswick border)

- a quick stop will be made in Hartland (located approximately 45 minutes Northwest of Fredericton) to view the Hartland Covered Bridge, which is the longest covered bridge in the world (1283 feet)

-- coaches are not allowed to pass through, but if the group wishes you can walk across and the coach can meet them on the other side

4:00pm - group to stop at Hopewell Rocks at the Hopewell Cape

- arrive and meet your guides for a guided tour including a chance to walk on the ocean floor, around the five story flowerpots gouged out of the cliffs by the magnificent force of the Fundy Tides (low tide is at 7:10pm but you can walk from 4:10pm to 8:00pm)

- conclude your visit and continue to Moncton

- when you arrive in the Moncton area, be sure to check out Magnetic Hill – Canada’s third most visited natural attraction, where sitting at the bottom of this hill, with the bus in neutral, you’ll have the sensation of going uphill and backwards at that!!

- purchase dinner before arriving at the hotel

8:30pm - estimated time of arrival at the Howard Johnson Brunswick Plaza Hotel to check in for an overnight stay

-- evening at leisure enjoying the hotel indoor pool

Day 4 – Monday June 30 - Moncton to Cavendish, Mayfield and Charlottetown

7:30am - breakfast at the hotel this morning is a deluxe continental buffet

8:00am - hotel check out and loading of the coach

8:30am - depart for Charlottetown, P.E.I

9:30am - arrive in Cape Jourimain, New Brunswick where you will cross the Confederation Bridge into Borden, Prince Edward Island – the Confederation Bridge, which is the longest bridge over ice covered waters in the world at 12.9 kilometers, opened for service in May of 1997

-- once you cross the bridge head towards Park Corner (located 15 minutes from Cavendish)

11:00am - arrive at Anne of Green Gables House (Silver Bush) which was built in the mid 1800’s and belonged to elderly cousins of Lucy Maud Montgomery

- this house was the setting for her first novel and your visit will be comprised of a visit to the museum, a horse drawn wagon ride (25 minutes long) and the opportunity to "plant potatoes"-refreshments will be served (cold beverage and cookies)

12:30pm - at the conclusion of the tour, board your coach and depart for Cavendish, where Lucy Maud Montgomery’s home is located

12:45pm - approximate time of arrival in Cavendish, where you will have time to purchase lunch from a suggested restaurant such as the Fisherman’s Wharf Buffet Restaurant

- after lunch you will enjoy the afternoon at the beach

3:30pm - board your coach and depart for your hotel

4:00pm - estimated time of arrival at Quality Inn - Mayfield to check in for a 2 night stay with time to freshen up for the evening

5:00pm - board your coach and return to Charlottetown

5:30pm - arrive into town to purchase dinner in chaperoned groups

7:30pm - meet as a group and transfer to the Confederation Centre of the Arts

7:45pm - arrive and collect your tickets from the Box Office

8:00pm - attend the evening performance of "Anne of Green Gables" at the Charlottetown Festival – the story of Prince Edward Island’s most famous orphan is brought to the stage in the form of an entertaining musical production – Enjoy the show!

10:45pm - at the conclusion of the show meet your hired coach outside the theatre and return to your hotel for overnight accommodation

11:30pm - estimated time of arrival at the hotel

Day 5 – Tuesday July 1 – To Charlottetown, PEI

8:30am - breakfast at the hotel this morning will be a deluxe continental

9:45am - transfer to Charlottetown – considered the birthplace of Canada and the cradle of Canadian Confederation

10:30am - estimated time of arrival at Whisper Wood Villa seniors home for a morning performance

- time allowed for a rehearsal

11:15am - 45 minute performance for the seniors by the St. Thomas Youth Choir

12:00noon - conclude your performance and enjoy some refreshments

1:00pm - reload the coach for departure

1:30pm - meet as a group at Founder’s Hall, where you will meet a costumed guide for a guided walking tour of Charlottetown, highlights to include such attractions as the newly developed waterfront in Charlottetown, Province House and Victoria Park

2:30pm - tour concludes and guides will take the group to the stage area

3:14pm - St. Thomas Youth Choir will perform on the Concert stage for Canada Day

3:45pm - concert concludes

4:00pm - enjoy a visit to Founders Hall where you will have a guided tour of the country’s newest National Historic Site – highlights of this tour include the time travel tunnel, the stately "Hall of the Delegates" with two" holovisual" displays, the Road to the Provinces, and the Queen Victoria Theatre, which has been built in the hull of the SS Victoria

5:00pm - at the conclusion of the tour depart for your restaurant location

5:30pm - group dinner is included at Papa Joe’s Restaurant

6:30pm - at the conclusion of dinner the group will enjoy the Canada Day Concert featuring a variety of acts – capped off by a fireworks exhibition at 10:00pm

10:30pm - meet your coach at a designated location and return to your hotel

11:00pm - arrive at your hotel for overnight accommodation

Day 6 – Wednesday July 2 – To Sydney, NS

7:00am - breakfast at the hotel will be a deluxe continental

8:00am - hotel check out and loading of the coach

8:30am - board your coach and depart for Wood Island

10:30am - approximate arrival time in Wood Island at the Northumberland Ferry Services Terminal Building, where you will check in for your one way sailing then begin boarding

11:30am - ferry departs for crossing from Wood Island, PEI to Caribou, NS (1 hour and 15 minute crossing time)

-- there is a full service snackbar and gift shop on board the ferry

12:45pm - arrive at the ferry docks in Caribou, NS, board the coach and disembark the ferry to depart for Sydney, NS

- a stop will be made enroute to purchase dinner at Saltsprings Irving Gas Bar and Restaurant (group to call ahead)

7:00pm - estimated arrival time at the Days Inn Sydney to check in for a 2 night stay

7:30pm - depart for Glace Bay (if you can depart any earlier, please do so to allow enough travel time)

8:00pm - arrive at the Miner’s Museum the location of the Men of the Deeps concert this evening (concert starts at 8:00pm)

- the St. Thomas Youth Choir will be performing 3 pieces with the choir this evening

9:30pm - concert concludes and return to your hotel for overnight accommodation

Day 7 – Thursday July 3 – Louisburg & Glace Bay

7:30am - enjoy a full deluxe continental breakfast in the hotel

8:30am - board your coach and depart for Louisbourg - this morning you will leave Sydney travelling south on hwy 327 to allow you to pass over the Marion Bridge then head north to hwy 22 to take you to Louisburg

9:30am - approximate time of arrival at the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site - enjoy a self guided visit of Canada’s original French Settlement

-- step back in time to 1744! Experience Louisbourg, a thriving seaport and capital of Ile Royale (Cape Breton Island) – the Fortress of Louisbourg was one of the busiest harbours in North America and one of France’s key centres of trade and military strength in the New World. Today, the Site is an exciting and entertaining lesson in history. Discover its many secrets!

- dozens of costumed animators become the town’s residents of the summer of 1744 – period homes, exhibits and theme centers line the central streets of Rue Toulouse and Rue Royale, as well as along the busy waterfront (quay).

11:45am - conclude your visit and take some time to purchase lunch in Louisburg

1:00pm - board your coach and depart for Glace Bay

2:00pm - approximate time of arrival in Glace Bay at the Cape Breton Miner’s Museum where you will enjoy a tour of the museum, which focuses on the geological development of the Sydney Coal Fields, including various mining techniques, early labour history of the coal mining communities, as well as the future of coal as an alternative source of energy, and a chance to go down and tour an actual mine (due to the size of your group you will be required to split into 2 mini groups to accommodate tight spaces in the mine)

4:00pm - conclude your visit

4:30pm - group dinner is provided in the "Miner’s Village Restaurant"

5:30pm - after dinner, return to your hotel for an evening of leisure and to pack for your departure tomorrow morning

Day 8 – Friday July 4 – To Halifax

7:30am - full deluxe continental breakfast at the hotel

8:30am - hotel check out and loading of the coach

9:00am - board your coach and depart for Halifax, NS with a stop enroute to purchase lunch

3:00pm - estimated time of arrival into Halifax at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic - enjoy a visit to the permanent exhibits, which document the sinking of the Titanic and the Halifax Explosion of 1917

4:00pm - conclude your visit and transfer to the Best Western Mic Mac Hotel - Dartmouth

4:30pm - arrive and check in for a 2 night stay take some time to quickly change for the evening

5:00pm - transfer to the Metro Convention Centre

5:30pm - arrive and be escorted into the ball room by a Bag Piper

5:45pm - buffet dinner begins

7:00pm - at the conclusion of dinner you will be escorted to the hall, where you will have time to find your seats for tonight’s event

7:30pm - attend this evening’s performance at the Nova Scotia International Tattoo –over 2,000 international performers will delight audiences with the Tattoo’s unique combination of music, dance,

drama, gymnastics, comedy, military displays and much more! - enjoy the evening!

10:30pm - at the conclusion of the show, board your coach and return to the hotel for overnight accommodation

Day 9 – Saturday July 5 – Halifax, Peggy’s Cove and Hubbards, NS

8:00am - hot buffet breakfast at the hotel

9:00am - board your coach and depart for the Halifax Citadel

9:30am - arrive at the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site for a guided visit to one of the finest remaining examples of a 19th-century bastion fortification - completed in 1856 and today is the restored landmark commemorating Halifax’s role as a key naval station in the British Empire

-- at the conclusion of your tour you will have the chance to watch the Changing of the Guard Ceremony featuring "The Black Watch", Halifax’s home regiment

10:30am - conclude your visit and meet Cynthia Driskill, "Good Will Ambassador at Large" & your host for the remainder of the day

- Cynthia will take you to an area where you can purchase sandwiches and snacks for lunch today (group will have to eat enroute)

11:10am - depart for Terence Bay and the S.S. Atlantic Memorial Site

12:00pm - arrive at the Memorial Site where you will be given a brief talk about this site

- the White StarLine’s S.S. Atlantic was one of the world’s largest steamers, but on April 1,1873 it hit the shoals along Terence Bay and sunk within hours, resulting in the drowning deaths of over 500 men, women and children

12:20pm - board coach and depart for Peggy’s Cove

12:50pm - approximate time of arrival in Peggy’s Cove

1:00pm - arrive at the whale watching boat dock for loading

- depart on a 3 hour whale watching cruise

4:00pm - cruise docking, then take some time to explore the village and take pictures of the most photographer lighthouse

- do not attempt to climb on the "black rocks" as they are an indicator of ‘rogue waves" which are known to crest unexpectedly and pound the shore

5:15pm - conclude your visit to the area, board the coach and depart for Hubbards

6:00pm - arrive at Hubbards for a traditional East Coast "lobster boil" at the Shore Club – the last dance hall in Nova Scotia - the hardwood floors in this dance hall were salvaged from old military barracks after WWII

-- famous bands such as Prairie Oyster, Blue Rodeo and the Rankins have all performed here (NOTE: a 2nd entrée will be offered for those who don’t want lobster)

6:15pm - enjoy dinner this evening

Day 10 – Sunday July 6 – Halifax, NS to Fredericton, NB

7:30pm - at the conclusion of dinner, board your coach and return to Halifax to your hotel for overnight accommodation

8:30am - enjoy a hot buffet breakfast at the hotel

9:30am - hotel check out and loading of the coach

10:00am - boarding of the coach and departure

10:30am - estimated time of arrival at St. Paul’s Anglican Church on Grand Parade where you will have time to prepare for performing during the service this morning – a grand piano is available for use during this performance

-- St. Paul’s is the oldest place for Protestant Worship in Canada – this church opened its doors in September of 1750

11:00am - service begins – St. Thomas Youth Choir will be performing pieces through the service

12:30pm - service concludes and depart for downtown Halifax with time to purchase lunch

1:30pm - meet your coach and depart for Dalhousie University

2:00pm - arrive at Dalhousie University’s Dalhousie Arts Centre, where you will participate in a choral music clinic based on East Coast Folk Music

- today’s visit will include a 15 minute film on Folk Music, entertainment from a local step dancer as well as learning a couple of folk songs with your clinician

3:00pm - at the conclusion of the performance board your coach and depart for Fredericton, NB with a stop enroute to purchase lunch and dinner at one of the Irving Gas Bar and Restaurant locations (suggest Amherst or the Moncton area)

11:00pm - estimated time of arrival at the Wandlyn Inn to check in for an overnight accommodation

Day 11 – Monday July 7 – To Montreal

8:00am - breakfast at the hotel

9:00am - hotel check out and loading of the coach

9:30am - board and depart for Montreal

(remember to set your watches back one hour when crossing the Quebec / New Brunswick border)

-- stops will be made for breaks to stretch your legs and to purchase lunch

7:30pm - estimated time of arrival at the Gouverneurs Hotel – Place Dupuis to check in for an overnight stay

- a meeting room has been reserved for the group to hold a pizza party

Day 12 – Tuesday July 8 – Montreal & Home

7:30am - hotel check out and loading of the coach

8:00am - board your coach and depart for the Hard Rock Cafe

8:30am - enjoy a "Tropical Fun" breakfast with eggs rancheros, home-made beef sausages, Texas style potatoes, exotic fruit salad with honey, variety of breads, butter & jam, coffee, tea or tropical fruit juices at the Hard Rock Café including dancing and a chance to purchase souvenirs

9:30am - after breakfast transfer to the Notre Dame Basilica

10:00am - enjoy a 20 minute overview guided tour with the opportunity to perform a few selections

10:45am - after your tour walk to the Old Port with free time to explore and purchase souvenirs

11:30am - meet as a group to have lunch at Restaurant du Vieux Port (located in the Old Port at de la Commune Street)

12:30pm - board your coach and depart for St. Thomas with a stop in Pickering for dinner

5:30pm - estimated time of arrival at Gallantry’s Eatery at the Pickering Town Centre where you will be having dinner this evening

6:30pm - board your coach and continue for home

9:30pm - estimated time of arrival in St. Thomas

WELCOME HOME!