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Second Katimavik team arrives in town
South Peace Staff
South Peace News
The second Katimavik group is volunteering with non-profit and social advocacy groups in High Prairie. They arrived Jan. 21 after being in Trail, B.C. for three months. As a group, they have worked on fish scale art at the High Prairie Native Friendship Centre and volunteered at the Eagle’s Nest Bingo Hall in Enilda. They volunteered at the ‘For What It’s Worth’ antique show April 3-4 and with students at High Prairie Elementary School for their ‘Aristocats’ musical. They will also hold an open house April 8 to thank their work supervisors and then they travel to Quebec April 13 for their next assignment. According to the website, Katimavik offers young Canadians an exciting experience which incorporates learning and volunteer involvement. It is Canada’s leading national youth volunteer-service program. During their 6-9 months with the program, participants ages 17 to 21 from across Canada get involved in exciting volunteer projects in each community.
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Caroline Bleeker is the project leader. She joined Katimavik to work with youth from across Canada who are actively engaged with their communities, as well as the experience and adventure. As the project leader, her role is to “guide the learning” of the group and individuals by liaising with the community, as well as set up opportunities through workshops and activities. She says Katimavik is an amazing experience, dynamic, ever changing and sometimes challenging. She is originally from The Netherlands but now calls Alberta home.
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Erin Wells, 19, is working at High Prairie Elementary School, as she plans to go into education and wants to make sure it is the right career choice for her. Wells joined Katimavik because she wanted a change, to travel across Canada and gain work experience. She says Katimavik is a great experience and does not want to be anywhere else right now. She also says her group loves High Prairie and could not have had such an “awesome time” without the support of the community. She is from Carberry, a community of 1,500 people in southwest Manitoba.
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Rebecca Webb, 18, is working at the High Prairie and District Food Bank and the High Prairie Native Friendship Centre. Webb likes the staff and the physical work involved with volunteering. She loves High Prairie and says everyone is “awesome,” including her work partners. She joined Katimavik for the experience, to travel and to help her decide want she wants to do for post-secondary education, although she is contemplating a career in criminal justice. She is from Fredericton Junction, New Brunswick.
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Regan Waller, 19, chose to work at Prairie River Junior High because she felt it would have a great work environment to explore. Waller is from Lenore, Manitoba and she joined Katimavik to volunteer, which allows her to get the whole perspective of a community. She also says Katimavik has made her change her career choice, as she is thinking about going into international development so she could work for World Vision or a humanitarian aid organization. She also says Katimavik is an amazing life changing experience.
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Ana Pelissier, 18, is working at the High Prairie Public Library and wanted to learn something new. Pelissier wanted to volunteer in Africa but her mother influenced her to do it in Canada first, so she joined Katimavik, which is the best thing which has happened to her. She is contemplating a career in marketing (leadership) or as a translator. She is from Laval, Quebec.
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Piper Kenney, 18, is working at E.W. Pratt School, as she wants to see how the school system works and wants to work with youth in High Prairie too. She plans to be a cosmetologist and says working with all age groups to get as much experience as possible is great. She is from Vancouver, B.C. and joined Katimavik to see Canada, as well as get a better sense of the jobs and careers available. She appreciates the experience of living in a small, close-knit community.
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Marcos Horta, 19, was born in Brazil and he lives in Toronto. Horta works at Pleasantview Lodge and he loves the interaction. Horta worked at a radio station in Trail, B.C. and he says it was fun. His twin brother was in Katimavik and says he had “a blast,” so Horta thought it would be fun too. He is a first-year marketing student and plans to continue his education after Katimavik and continue running his own clothing company as well.
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Guillaume Handfield, 19, is working at Prairie River Junior High and says he never thought he would work at a school, but it is a great job for socialization and learning about the community. He joined Katimavik to learn about himself and have time to learn about jobs after the program. He says Katimavik is very good for his resume and can learn many things, especially work skills. He also says Katimavik and his group have changed his vision about life.
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Erin Godkin, 18, works in the continuing care and acute care units at the High Prairie Health Complex. Godkin chose it for the positive atmosphere and future interests and she loves the variety of tasks offered and keeps busy all day. She joined Katimavik because it is a good experience, to travel across Canada, meet new people and give back to the communities. She says High Prairie has been “awesome” in welcoming her group and showing them around. She is from Waterloo, Ont. and plans to go to McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont. in September 2009 for science.
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Tyler Dale, 21, works at the High Prairie and District Museum and enjoys learning about Aboriginal cultures. Dale also works at Marigold Enterprises and he enjoys working with the staff and clients. He joined Katimavik to try something new and his experience with the program could lead him into social work or another career where he could help people. He is from Collingwood, Ont., which is close to Toronto.
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