Youth Stories
Indigenous Queerness
In examining the ways in which colonialism has shaped many Indigenous communities, we often see various harmful European concepts being adopted by community members. Some examples of such are the ideas of homophobia and transphobia. In engaging youth from across...
What’s Involved in a Virtual Exchange?
Register before Christmas to help us fast-track twinning for groups early in the New Year, although twinning will continue until June 2021. Groups can complete 1 unit together, or work through all 6 in small teams. Whether or not you’re interested in future...
Virtual Exchanges FAQ
An Experiences Canada Virtual Exchange is a fun, engaging online activity that can support social studies, language, and creative studies curricula from Grades 7-12, as well as second language. It virtually twins groups or individual youth in different part of Canada...
#ENDSARS
By Maame Efua De-Heer
Anti-Racism Ambassador
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...
KIARA GAMROTH – Exchange Alumni, YAC Secretary
I live on a farm near the small town of Halkirk, Alberta. I had the privilege of going to Napanee, Ontario on my exchange in May of 2017. It was a wonderful experience and it helped me develop my leadership skills. The exchange showed me how diverse Canada really is....
Prime Minister’s Youth Council
Have your voice heard by applying to become a member of the #PMYouthCouncil and provide advice to the Prime Minister and the Government of on issues that matter to you, your community and youth across Canada. ➡️ Visit the Prime Minister’s Youth Council for more...
Adam Young
Adam is a Youth Program Specialist with Scouts Canada, leading program design and sustainability initiatives for Canada’s largest coed youth leadership organization. A former teacher, Adam has taught at the university and K-12 level, specializing in environmental and...
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...
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...
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...
Canada 150&Me
Experiences Canada 150&Me, a Canada 150 signature initiative, was a unique multi-destination youth event and series of regional forums for young people between the ages of 14 and 19, held across Canada over a three-month period culminating in Ottawa the week of...