Carney–Trump Simulation Sparks Engagement
In Alicia Hawryluk’s Grade 12 Canadian and International Politics class, students don’t just learn about politics—they step inside it. This shows up clearly in one of this year’s major summative assignments: a simulation of Carney–Trump talks in the Oval Office. Students were split into two groups, each taking on the persona of either U.S. President Donald Trump or Prime Minister Mark Carney. Pairs selected a major Canada–U.S. issue to defend, ranging from trade and USMCA to Arctic sovereignty, border security, NATO defence, pipelines, climate, and more. The format pushed students to go beyond surface-level argument and into the messy reality of negotiation.
To prepare, students completed organizers that included documents with historical context, clear national viewpoints, key arguments, possible compromises, and anticipated press questions. As Bradley Hotson ’26 explains, “ I read a lot of government documents to prepare, including the official Government of Canada press releases, which helped me discuss the changes currently being implemented.” For Ethan Simopoulos ’26, research also included style: “ I used the LibGuide for the White House to see what Trump was saying. I also studied how he speaks in interviews, to prepare my voice and mimic how he articulates words.”
On simulation day, the Cortellucci Family Theatre transformed into an Oval Office press event. Pairs delivered 30-second opening statements, debated for five minutes, and fielded probing questions from classmates acting as journalists. Creativity and staging helped to show deep engagement with political theatre and persuasion.
For Hawryluk, the end goal goes beyond grades. “ I want them to take away a greater understanding of Canadian and American politics,” she says. She also emphasizes student confidence and enthusiasm as the antidotes to apprehension about presenting. “ The boys were having fun onstage and could have stayed there even longer doing the question-and-answer sessions. The goal is to learn and to have a good time doing it.”
By making students researchers, politicians, and press all at once, Hawryluk’s class turns political learning into practice. Experiences like this have sparked a real curiosity in students, with both Hotson and Simopoulos expressing interest in continuing to study international politics in university—proof that a well-designed simulation can open doors to lifelong engagement with the world.
