Katimavik was a very fond option of mine leaving my school. It's highlights included volunteering, living in a group, travelling, learning a second language - all which I had great interest in pursuing. Before I knew it, I was on a plane flying towards a 9 month adventure
Considering that it was indeed a 9 month program, I will omit lengthy and finer details. The majority of my experience can be found on the group blog we kept.
During my time in Sault Ste. Marie, I became an active part of the Environmental committee. Living in a group meant the crossing of intellectual minds, especially regarding sustainable living. A Katimavik house is absolutely no exception to this. I put up posters and little hints on how to be eco-friendly; reminders to turn off the water, how to compost, etc. They were small steps that would potentially have a big impact. My group volunteered for a variety of community events and affiliated organizations, such as the Bon Soo Festival, the United Way, and the Red Cross. I, along with another participant, volunteered weekly at the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Museum. It was a slow time though during the middle of winter. However, it was my first experience working in retail and ever using a cash register. My partner and I learned a lot a bushplanes and marketing; we helped our supervisor sell raffle tickets to raise money in order to transport a Otter bushplane to Detroit for an exhibit, as well as disassembling and reassembling the same plane. It was surely a good place to learn about tourism.
Our third rotation was in Corner Brook, Newfoundland. There I worked at Corner Brook Stream and Trails, a company devoted to creating and maintaining a network of public trails that ran through the city . It was tough, physical labor which consisted of planting, watering, digging and the overall creation of a trail and the structures along them (benches, garbage receptacles) It was work I thoroughly enjoyed.
Considering that it was indeed a 9 month program, I will omit lengthy and finer details. The majority of my experience can be found on the group blog we kept.
During my time in Sault Ste. Marie, I became an active part of the Environmental committee. Living in a group meant the crossing of intellectual minds, especially regarding sustainable living. A Katimavik house is absolutely no exception to this. I put up posters and little hints on how to be eco-friendly; reminders to turn off the water, how to compost, etc. They were small steps that would potentially have a big impact. My group volunteered for a variety of community events and affiliated organizations, such as the Bon Soo Festival, the United Way, and the Red Cross. I, along with another participant, volunteered weekly at the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Museum. It was a slow time though during the middle of winter. However, it was my first experience working in retail and ever using a cash register. My partner and I learned a lot a bushplanes and marketing; we helped our supervisor sell raffle tickets to raise money in order to transport a Otter bushplane to Detroit for an exhibit, as well as disassembling and reassembling the same plane. It was surely a good place to learn about tourism.
The Bushplane Museum
Fundraising techniques at the mall
We moved to St. Elie de Caxton, a small town outside of Mauricie National Park in Quebec . My entire group worked in the park, from paper work to physically removing snow. We learned a lot about how parks are ran, especially the maintenance work done during the winter. This included painting lodges and cabins that would be used by tourists in the summer months. I've yet to return and enjoy the park in the summer, but I will someday.
Receiving our certificates of volunteerism
Our third rotation was in Corner Brook, Newfoundland. There I worked at Corner Brook Stream and Trails, a company devoted to creating and maintaining a network of public trails that ran through the city . It was tough, physical labor which consisted of planting, watering, digging and the overall creation of a trail and the structures along them (benches, garbage receptacles) It was work I thoroughly enjoyed.
One of the garbage cans I helped installed
Trail creation
My group and I were heading to play lazer tag one day and I invited my co-worker Chris. He wondered where the business was and was surprised to find it was just a block away from our morning meeting place. Despite living in Corner Brook his entire life, he had never went and experienced lazer tag. Unfortunate as that was, the conversation had a large impact on me. It made me realized just how much there was to do in a town when actually sought out; as we were taught, to act like a tourist in your own community. Even in our own home towns there were great features to exploit and enjoy. This reminded me of a photo back home...
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