Chantell enjoys a windy day by the ocean in Campbell River, BC.

Hi, my name is Chantell Orlias and I’m from the small community of Colville Lake, NT. In the Canadian Phase of NYA, things have been pretty awesome so far. I’ve met a lot of people and I have gotten to do a lot of travelling, which I love.

I am really enjoying my time in the south and the work experience here in Campbell River, BC. I am working at a bakery for my summer volunteering placement. The place is small but it gets pretty busy some days. The people who work here are pretty cool and really fun to work with. I start work pretty early, at 6am, but I’ve always managed to get up and get to work on time. My placement buddy and I have a host mother who is pretty cool, and she is currently fostering two young kids with our stay in her home which I think is awesome. She is a social worker.

The time spent here has taken me by surprise, it is really beautiful here on Vancouver Island. It’s hot out most days but there is always wind so that is what makes this place so much better, for me anyways. We’ve been to Victoria, which was pretty amazing, and on the way there we passed through Nanaimo, which is about an hour and a half away. We got to meet up with some other NYA Participants who were placed on the island also. Overall, things have been great and I have not gotten too homesick. Campbell River has been more than I expected so I’m really grateful for this opportunity.