Tony Kennett has taught for over 40 years and during that time experienced the excitement of international travel with a variety of students. His goal was to offer a trip that allowed students to be a part of everyday life in that country, as well as being able to enjoy the "sights".

In 1983 he traveled to Melbourne, Australia with his wife and two young sons on a Teacher Exchange. The family fell in love with the country and its people. The year in Australia gave him the idea to create an opportunity for his students in Canada to have a taste of what his family experienced.

In 1992 he took a group of students from Gordon Bell School in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada to Burnt Mill School in Harlow, England. The students were billeted with families from the Harlow School. They stayed with the families and became "a part of everyday life" in England - as much as anyone can on a ten-day trip.

The next year the Harlow students came to Canada and stayed with some Gordon Bell families. They experienced the winter wonderland of Winnipeg.

This exchange system proved so successful it continued until 2002.

The programme has now been linked with Melbourne, Australia. The idea is a tri-country exchange system linking 3 schools over a three-year cycle. The students of these three countries can experience the joys of travel in the safety of family homes.