BY EMILY MARKHOLM
In today’s day and age Canada prides itself on being such a diverse community, when really we often do not have a chance in our lifetime to be exposed to many of these diverse cultures.
A group of 16 L.V. Rogers students and a group of 16 students from Fort McPherson, North West Territories have been given the chance to experience diverse cultures in full depth.
With funding from the YMCA, each group will have the chance to spend one week in the other’s community. As you are reading this, the students of Chief Julius school are visiting Nelson. In the past weeks we have been frantically preparing for their arrival. We are thrilled that they are finally here.
We have many activities planned for the students while they visit Nelson. On the holiday Monday we went skiing at the Salmo ski hill. The majority of these students have never seen mountains, especially not ones as large as we have here. By taking them skiing, we hope to have them experience our vibrant mountain culture.
We will also go snowshoeing at Kootenay Pass. We will teach them how to use avalanche transceivers and other equipment, as they live in a place with rolling hills and do not have to worry about avalanche dangers.
Friday will be spent as a community service day. Throughout the day we will be visiting various locations around Nelson, including Our Daily Bread. We also have a banquet planned at the Hume Hotel that evening to thank our sponsors and say goodbye to the Fort McPherson students.
The blending of two cultures is going to give our two groups life experience that you can’t find in many places. It is amazing to know that we were chosen for this exchange.
Emily Markholm is an L.V. Rogers student.