Katimavik Needs You

This is a post I never thought I'd have to write.

In the federal budget tabled today (March 29), funding for Katimavik was cancelled.  This program, with a more than 30 year history of helping communities across our country is in serious danger.

To give you an idea of how important the program is, I'd like to share some things that happened during and after my time in the program.

During my time in Wawa, the town of my first rotation, my group helped with a hugely successful food drive, with much of the food coming in by the hamperful.  It was a really fun day spent as a group, one for which I know I have photos somewhere and would happily share once I find them.

In Trois-Rivieres, a memorable event that actually involved a couple of groups in the area was our Earth Day activity, in which we held a massive park cleanup.  No piece of litter was left untouched, and for being the two groups, it was a fun day to hang out and have a good time while doing something for the community.

Lastly, in Deer Lake, perhaps the first thing to come to mind was our traditional "Screeching" ceremony.  We had a couple of families from the town over to our home in town, where we had a traditional Newfoundland meal of Fish and Brewis, topped off with the ceremony.  It was a rather humorous event that we again shared with another group, but one that sticks greatly in my memory (and really, how else would I have a chance to say I kissed a cod?)

In 2007, I attended the Alberta Voluntary Sector Conference as a delegate for Katimavik, and was told countless stories of how participants like I once was helped groups from all corners of the province.  This is one of the few times in the course of my time after Katimavik that I had occasion to speak with represenatives of community partners, but reinforced in my mind the importance of the program.

On countless occasions since the end of the program, I've met numerous other alumni who have all shared a similar view that the program has had a hugely positive impact on their lives.  I'm sure I can speak for them in saying that it was a huge part of our lives.

We cannot afford to deny this opportunity to youth and community groups.

I urge you to contact your MP, Heritage Minister James Moore and Prime Minister Stephen Harper to speak out against these cuts.

With your help, we can make this happen.

Changes

Deer Lake, Newfoundland, July 1, 2006. I was on an extended weekend off, which was celebrated in a way I wasn't quite expecting.

It all began with waking up first thing in the morning, enjoying a quick breakfast, then meeting with local residents outside the Salvation Army hall to participate in a parade through town, finishing up at the local legion with much fanfare.

Later in the day, there was a fair of sorts outside the community centre, with all kinds of fun events and lots of prizes. All this on a beautiful summer day, the kind that I came to remember Newfoundland for (even in spite of it raining for days at a time!)

This sticks in my mind as one of the most memorable things we did during the summer, in amongst our many trips to Gros Morne National Park (if you get a chance, GO THERE) and our overnight trip to the northern peninsula to visit some of the viking settlements (something that to this day still makes people jealous).

Hope you all enjoy your summer and your Canada Day!

4 Years Later, The View from Here

Well, well, well... Long time no blog. With it coming up fast on 4 years since I finished Katimavik, I thought I would take this time to talk a bit about how I feel the experience still relates to my life today.

These days I'm enrolled to study for my bachelor's degree in Computing and Information Systems and starting to work again after taking a somewhat unwanted hiatus following a month-long work term in Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

I haven't traveled near as much as I'd like, although I am hoping to disappear off to Saskatchewan for a little bit sometime this summer to touch base with a friend that I haven't seen since we parted ways at the end of our first rotation in Katimavik, which brings me to the reflection.

A lot of what I have been able to do over the last few years is things I would have been far less likely to do had it not been for Katimavik. For example, living in New Brunswick for just about 2 years. That was an absolute blast, it's one of the most interesting provinces I hadn't thought of going to, plus I lived just a couple doors down from one of the people I did Katimavik with. I even ended up going skydiving for the first time after getting some encouragement from the one friend in Saskatchewan that I mentioned above and had such a good time that I'm making plans to go visit her this summer and do it again (and maybe watch her do some jumps too).

I've not been nearly as involved in the community as I would have liked, but I volunteered with Rogers TV in New Brunswick for just shy of a year while I was there and since coming back to Calgary have been involved with WorldSkills Calgary, the Calgary International Film Festival and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Calgary. I do plan to do much, much more as time goes on and will also be going back to work for the Katimavik cause again, because I just can't get enough of helping out such an amazing organization (and as alumni, it's nice to give back to a program I've gotten so much from).

A question I often ask myself is if I went back to when I decided to try applying for Katimavik and moving through the process again, would I?

To this day, I'm hard pressed to find reason to say anything but yes. There were good times and there were downright horrible times, but it was an experience I wouldn't trade for the world. The friendships I've made, the places I've seen, the things I've gotten to do, without Katimavik, much of it would likely have never happened.

Rest in Peace, Jacques Hebert

Senator Jacques Hebert, founder of Katimavik and Canada World Youth, former Canadian Senator and Civil Rights advocate has passed away at age 84, leaving behind a legacy so profound it ripples throughout Canada, impacting the lives of countless individuals in all corners of the country and indeed worldwide with those participating in Canada World Youth or having moved abroad to complete more good works after their experience, even those that have been touched by the works of Senator Hebert or the youth from the two fine programs he fought so strongly for, right down to those whose rights he fought with incredible gusto to defend.

He was a fine man, though I never had the privilege to meet him, I'm certain that he has left an impact in my life through Katimavik.

Rest in Peace Jacques.

Holy Cow...

It's been over a year now since I completed Katimavik and I can honestly say the time has passed much faster than I expected it to. In the year since my return, I've of course kept up with all my friends from the experience, but I've also started on the path to a promising career in telecommunications.

On the note of my Katimavik friends, I'm actually moving in to an apartment with one of them in the next 11 months. I'm really stoked, mainly because though I'm a prairie kind of guy for all time, I'm kind of getting sick and tired of the way things go in Alberta.

Rotation Two-One Year Later

I've been meaning to post this one for a while. Rotation 2 was definitely the scariest for our group in terms of member losses, as we almost ended up losing all but myself and another member. We were fortunate enough to find mercy so only a few left.

The First Rotation: One Year Later

Wow, it's already been a year since my first rotation. In retrospect, it was great. Save major turbulence within the group, we managed to survive without too much loss within the group. We got along, and sadly had to break off from our peers in Dubreuilville and White River to join the groups in Shawinigan and St. Elie. Little did we know that our group would almost be disbanded because of some of our foolish behaviour.