Doyle and his placement buddy Chris

My name is Doyle Algona and I am 19 years old from Kugluktuk, Nunavut. I was introduced to Northern Youth Abroad by a friend of mine. She was a past participant in the 2016 Canadian Program. She told me all about her experience with NYA and It sounded interesting and fun. I decided to fill out the application and applied. A few weeks later I had my interview. Then I was so happy when I finally heard that I was accepted as a Canadian Program Participant. I was excited because I would be spending the summer in southern Canada with more teens from all over Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.

My placement is in Bear River, Nova Scotia and I am volunteering 35 hours per week at the Fundy YMCA. At the YMCA I work with the youth camps. It is my first time in the province. It’s a new experience and very exciting. My host family is Holly Meuse and her three boys. I am thankful that she is willing to open up her house for the summer to me and my placement buddy Chris. This experience is giving me the confidence to be more independent and teaching me how to live on a budget.

I encourage teens from the North to try NYA because you never know where it may take you in the future. It is also a great way to experience our diverse country and gives the opportunity to share your culture to a part of Canada who doesn’t know much about the North. You also get to try something new and make great friends along the way.