Youth Stories
Making a Splash: Discover the Transformative Power of Experiences Canada’s First-Ever Water-Polo Exchange
From August 25th to August 31st, 2024, young athletes from Capital Wave Water Polo and Vortex Water Polo participated in Experiences Canada’s first-ever Water Polo Exchange led by Waneek Horn-Miller, a CBC Olympic Primetime Panelist and former Canadian Water Polo...
Experiences Canada Launches First-Ever Water Polo Youth Exchange Led by Waneek Horn-Miller, Canadian Water Polo Olympian
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: With the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics inspiring Canadians this summer, 30 Youth are participating in Experiences Canada’s first-ever water polo exchange to share their love of sport and learn about Indigenous teachings. Ottawa, August...
Meet Our Youth Leaders for National Youth Forum 2024 – Reconciliation
Experiences Canada is excited to be able to bring youth across Canada together for our highly anticipated in-person National Youth Forum 2024 in Ottawa, Ontario! Building on the success of our 2022 Allyship Forum in Winnipeg, 50 youth participants and 10 youth...
From Urban to Arctic: Building Bridges Between Youth in Naujaat and Ottawa
On April 7th, 2024, students and teachers from Glebe Collegiate Institute (GCI), in Ottawa, Ontario embarked on our journey to Naujaat, Nunavut. After four flights, we finally landed in Naujaat, a stunning Inuit hamlet of just over 1,200 people, located in the...
Discovering Montreal: A life-changing Youth Exchange between Nuvviti school and St-Jean-Vianney College
Our student exchange trip from Nuvviti school, Ivujivik, QC to St-Jean-Vianney College, Montréal, QC expanded our students’ minds and futures to new possibilities. Nuvviti school is in the northern village of Ivujivik, QC, the northernmost settlement in...
Youth Leader Spotlight: Justin Langan
On National Indigenous Peoples Day we’d like to showcase one of our Indigenous Youth Leaders that will be attending our National Youth Forum 2024 - Reconciliation. Meet Justin Langan! He is a multi-award-winning LGBTQ2+ Métis activist, creative and student at the...
Connecting Hearts and Cultures
A Transformative Journey on the Paulatuk Exchange From September 25 to October 1, 2022, we had the privilege of hosting students and teachers from Angik School in Paulatuk, here in central Ontario. We had an exciting time showing them some of the many...
Discovering Alberta
A Journey of Friendship and Growth Experiences Canada, We would like to thank you for the incredible travel experience we recently had in Edmonton, Alberta. Thanks to your generosity and professionalism, we were able to fully enjoy everything this city...
Powdered Paths
Ski Adventures from Kelowna to Ottawa In January 2023, my ski team and I embarked on an unforgettable trip to Ottawa. The excitement was palpable as we departed at 6:00 am for our much-anticipated adventure. Throughout the entire exchange, we were immersed...
Uniting Cultures: A Transformative Exchange Between Netsilik School And Elmvale High School
In a world that is becoming increasingly interconnected, the importance of cultural exchange and understanding cannot be overstated. Recently, Netsilik School from Taloyoak, Nunavut, and Elmvale High...
Feature Friday: Alumni Shelby Yoder
Alumni Shelby Yoder took the time to answer some questions and share what she has been up to since her time with Experiences Canada. Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself? My name is Shelby Yoder (born Larsen) and I was a participant in a...
Feature Friday: Alumni Rebecca French
Alumni Rebecca French took the time to answer some questions and share what she has been up to since her time with Experiences Canada. Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself? My name is Rebecca French. I’m originally from Bay Roberts,...
Feature Friday: Alumni Joy Rogers
Alumni Joy Rogers took the time to answer some questions and to update us on what her time with Experiences Canada. Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself? Joy is a mixed First Nations and British woman currently working for the government of...
Feature Friday: Alumni Leejoo Hwang
Alumni Leejoo Hwang took the time to answer some questions and to update us on what he has been up to since his time with Experiences Canada. This quick read shows just how life changing our programs can be. Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself?...
Feature Friday: Alumni Zach Wysoczanskyj
Alumni Zach Wysoczanskyj took the time to answer some questions and to update us on what he has been up to since his time with Experiences Canada. This quick read shows just how life changing a youth exchange can be. Can you please tell us a little bit...
Feature Friday: Alumni Kulmehak Randhawa
Alumni Kulmekah Randhawa took the time to answer some questions and to update us on what he has been up to since his time with Experiences Canada. This quick read shows just how impactful, engaging, and empowering our programs can be. Q: When and which...
Alumni Robert Warzel – Reciprocal language exchange 2007
My first encounter with Experiences Canada (then SEVEC) was early 2007, on a reciprocal language exchange between Langley, BC and St-Hyacinthe, QC. I was a French immersion student through high school, so the immediate and obvious benefit was the opportunity to...
Something to Remember
My trip to Sylvan Lake, Alberta really was not one to forget. I met so many new, great people as well as saw so much beauty in nature that I would never be able to see in my hometown province of Ontario. My favourite part of the trip was hands down going to Banff and...
Catherine Cadigan
Canada 150&Me Forum Participant, YAC President 2017-2018 Two years ago, I was a high school student in grade 10 who had never travelled much farther than the community centre from my hometown of Lindsay, Ontario. Regardless of my lack of geographical expertise, I...
SANT SINGH, BRAMPTON, ONTARIO
Participated in Youth exchange to Hay River, NWT, YAC member Being a part of an Experiences Canada cultural exchange was without a doubt one of the best things that ever happened to me. As with many other children of immigrant families, I have always been expected to...
Our trip to Ottawa
Our trip to Ottawa was a great opportunity to bond as a team, with our host families, and to explore another province. Our six days were spent visiting Ottawa’s various tourist attractions, with the occasional basketball game sprinkled in (we played SMT and Glebe)....
Lifetime Connections
My experience in Victoria with our varsity basketball team was extraordinary. While in Victoria, there was never a dull moment. I had the opportunity to experience so many things with my team, and these opportunities will inspire me for a lifetime. My time in Victoria...
I never thought I would be able to experience this…
When my teacher was telling my class that we would get a chance to go to Quebec I was so excited. I knew that it would be a new experience to learn about another indigenous group all across Canada. At the beginning of the exchange it was quite different meeting new...
My Trip With Experiences Canada
My trip to Ontario and around Alberta was incredible. I got to do and explore so many things; things that struck inspiration for my writing and things that inspired me for my future. I am a born and raised Canadian but there were so many differences that I discovered...
Diversity and Acceptance: My Trip to Vancouver
My best memory from the trip is the time I went swimming in the Pacific Ocean. At that moment, the sun was setting and its rays were reflected by the water, which reminded me of how lucky we were to go on this trip. What surprised me the most is how the people that...
Exchange Stories – An Even More Meaningful Experience
The Indigenous Education Consultant of our school board presented our principal with the idea to take a group of students on an exchange to British Columbia. Our school, Holy Cross, had recently piloted many initiatives surrounding indigenous education, and the chance...
Exchange Stories – An Exchange Outside of the Norm!
I desperately wanted to do this exchange since I was going to discover a new part of Canada. I also think that this type of exchange is a good opportunity to practice your English and make meaningful connections with new people! Ever since the announcement, I couldn’t...
Exchange Stories – Exchange Trip with Kamloops
Here's a day-to-day account of one exchange experience authored by Arianne Rousseau from St-Hyacinthe, Quebec. Day 1: Finally departing 58. That was the number of days that separated the time our twins from Kamloops left Quebec to the day our group of 25 students and...
Exchange Stories – An Adventure of a Lifetime
Hello! My name is Kaila Willison-Cole, and I am 17 years old. I recently did an exchange to Clyde River, Nunavut, and this was my experience. I went into this exchange not really knowing anyone personally. I knew four students that were my age, but the rest were...
Exchange Stories – An Image I’ll Never Forget
Hello Everyone. Today I would like to talk to you about my experience as an Experiences Canada youth ambassador. This trip allowed me to visit a part of Canada I had never been to before, to discover an extraordinary city and to meet fantastic people. One of my best...
Exchange Stories – My Wonderful Trip to Bathurst
I’m an eighth grader at Frank Ryan Intermediate School in Ottawa, Ontario. I participate in various school sports and activities; ambassadors, basketball, cross-country, girls coding, newspaper club and many more. Ever since I was young, I’ve always wanted to go on a...
Exchange Stories – Best Exchange Ever!
Every second year, Canadian Parents for French organizes an exchange with another community through Experiences Canada. I love learning new things about our country, improving my French, and meeting new people. That is why I wanted to go on this exchange. The exchange...
Exchange Stories – Being a host
Elsie Martineau, youth ambassador for Polyvalente La Samare in Plessisville, Quebec hosted Monck Public School from Bracebridge, Ontario on January 16th. Here are her thoughts on the first half of her exchange. I wanted to do this exchange because my sisters...
Exchanges FAQ
We strongly believe that all youth should have equal access to participation in Experiences Canada Exchanges. As such we provide limited funding to support the inclusion of youth with special needs or disabilities, from low-income households, rural or isolated areas...
Exchange Stories – Winnipeg, Manitoba to Baie-Saint-Paul, Quebec
Calli Smirl, youth ambassador for École Varennes, a French immersion school in Winnipeg, Manitoba traveled to Baie-Saint-Paul, Québec on January 16th to meet other youth from Centre éducatif Saint-Aubin. Here are her a few of her favorite moments about their...
Exchange Stories – Our trip to Canmore
On this wonderful journey we did a LOT of activities, every day was very busy, but if I had to pick, there are a few experiences that stand out to me as trip highlights. Number one would have to be the backcountry skiing into Lake Louise, followed by drinking hot...
GUIDING CANADIAN TEENS THROUGH CANADA’S PAST
Elgin Girl Guides of Canada leader Pat Watson Wins Experiences Canada Award to be Presented at the Governor General’s History Awards Pat Watson, a geologist and group organizer for the Kingston, Ontario-based Girl Guides of Canada 1st Nova Scotia 2017...
Nelson High School and Handsworth Secondary School – Future Grey Cup Champions?
Last month, Handsworth Secondary School welcomed Nelson High School, from Burlington, Ontario, for a week full of football and Canadian history in their hometown of Vancouver! As one of the visiting youths, Keagan Hall shared with us his initial thoughts; “I wasn’t...
Canada 150&Me alumni, Lacey Koughan, taking the road less traveled!
Lacey Koughan is a Canada150&Me alumni who is also doing big things! She’s an entrepreneur, feminist advocate and a speaker! Learn about her empowerment program and her involvement with the Entrepreneur conference below. -Tell me about 24STRONG; what is it...
4500 km and a million stories between them!
Heather Mcphail, group organizer, and her students from Central Peel Secondary School in Brampton, Ontario visited an indigenous reserve in Hay River, Northwest Territories! Sixteen multicultural students in grades 10-12 were chosen to travel with 3 chaperones. ...
What’s Involved in an Exchange?
Submit application 4-6 months before you want to travel or host Ensure you have School Board or Association Approval Be aware of your learning theme and group size as this will help when filling out the application Once submitted you will be asked to submit two...
Canada We Want
Attending the Canada We Want Conference, organized by the Student’s Commission of Canada was a life changing experience. This conference allowed for youth from all over Canada to discuss issues that were impacting us...