Youth Stories

Connecting Hearts and Cultures

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...

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Discovering Alberta

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...

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Powdered Paths

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...

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Feature Friday: Alumni Shelby Yoder

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...

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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,...

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Feature Friday: Alumni Joy Rogers

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...

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Feature Friday: Alumni Leejoo Hwang

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?...

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Feature Friday: Alumni Zach Wysoczanskyj

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...

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Feature Friday: Alumni Kulmehak Randhawa

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...

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Alumni Robert Warzel – Reciprocal language exchange 2007

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...

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Something to Remember

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...

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Catherine Cadigan

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...

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SANT SINGH,  BRAMPTON, ONTARIO

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...

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Our trip to Ottawa

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)....

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Lifetime Connections

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...

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I never thought I would be able to experience this…

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...

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My Trip With Experiences Canada

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...

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Diversity and Acceptance: My Trip to Vancouver

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...

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Exchange Stories – An Even More Meaningful Experience

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...

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Exchange Stories – An Exchange Outside of the Norm!

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...

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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...

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Exchange Stories – An Adventure of a Lifetime

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...

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Exchange Stories – An Image I’ll Never Forget

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...

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Exchange Stories – My Wonderful Trip to Bathurst

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...

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Exchange Stories – Best Exchange Ever!

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...

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Exchange Stories – Being a host

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...

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Exchanges FAQ

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...

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Exchange Stories – Our trip to Canmore

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...

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GUIDING CANADIAN TEENS THROUGH CANADA’S PAST

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...

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4500 km and a million stories between them!

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. ...

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What’s Involved in an Exchange?

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...

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Canada We Want

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...

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