Parent of orchestra student hopes district will change its tune on cancelled NYC trip 

After months of practising and raising money for a trip to a New York City festival, a group of high school students from École l'Odyssée has been told their trip was cancelled because of the tariff war with the United States. 

The students found out about the district's decision on Tuesday — eight days before they were supposed to board a bus for the trip. 

Andy Peterson, whose son is one of the students who planned to go on the trip, said it's been emotional and disappointing. 

Peterson said the students have been "working since the fall on their pieces. … getting ready musically and getting ready travel-wise."  

More than 50 students were planning to attend the International Heritage Festival and perform at a church in Harlem. They also had a day of sightseeing planned. 

"So, educational and cultural and music … To say they were excited would be an understatement," said Peterson. 

District defends decision

In an emailed response in French, Geneviève Chiasson, an official with the Francophone South School District, said the trip was cancelled as a "precautionary measure."

"Our primary responsibility remains the safety and well-being of the students entrusted to us for any school trip. … In the current context, we do not wish to take any risks that could compromise their safety or expose them to potentially unpredictable situations, notably at the U.S. border."

Chiasson said the decision was made "in consultation" with the Education Department, "which supports our approach."

Even the area's MLA has weighed in on the matter. Alexandre Cédric Doucet, who represents Moncton East, sent an email to school superintendent Monique Boudreau, asking the district to reverse its decision. 

"While it is true that the geopolitical situation is worrying, we cannot afford to prevent children from participating in this event, especially since the decision was made without consulting parents," Doucet wrote. 

No N.B. government policy in place

While Peterson said the original message from the music teacher referred to a Government of New Brunswick approach to non-essential travel to the U.S., provincial spokesperson Bruce Macfarlane confirmed, "There is no such restriction in place." 

Peterson can't understand why the trip would be cancelled when "the temperature has gone down" between the two countries. 

"By all accounts, the temperature seems to be coming down on the elbows-up side of things, and so can we drop our elbows a little bit?"

Peterson said there's still time for the district to reverse the decision. 

"From the logistics of the trip, we could still make it happen," he said. "But with every hour that goes by, it feels less likely." 

He said there's no plan to defy the district and go anyway — "so much bad would come from that" — but there is an attempt to find a Canadian alternative to the trip.