“Home isn’t always a place you’ve lived—sometimes it’s a place where people make you feel like you belong.”

When I left Tuktoyaktuk, I knew I was about to experience something completely different, but I never imagined how quickly Hamilton, Ontario would start to feel like a second home.

The moment that will stay with me forever happened the day we arrived. As soon as we met our host mom, she couldn’t stop smiling. She kept taking pictures of us, giving us hugs, and telling us how happy she was that we were finally here. Seeing her eyes fill with tears made me realize just how excited she was to welcome us into her family. That moment instantly made me feel comfortable, and I’ll never forget it.

Since then, we’ve been making memories every day. We’ve gone shopping, visited the zoo, spent a day at a carnival, gone to a concert, cheered at a football game, worked out at the gym, gone out to eat, and even had an awesome pool party. Every day has been a new adventure, and there has always been something exciting to look forward to. It’s amazing how much we’ve been able to experience in such a short amount of time.

One of my favourite parts of this experience has been trying foods I’d never eaten before. I finally tried asparagus, ramen, and jamaican food. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I’m glad I stepped outside my comfort zone because I ended up enjoying all of them.

Hamilton is so different from Tuktoyaktuk. The traffic, the number of people, the variety of restaurants, and all the places to explore are completely different from what I’m used to. Even the time difference took some getting used to! At first it felt overwhelming, but now I find myself appreciating how much there is to see and do.

This trip has taught me that sometimes the best experiences happen when you’re willing to try something new. I’ve learned more than I expected—not just about Ontario, but about myself. I’ve become more confident, more open to new experiences, and more grateful for the opportunity to meet incredible people.

If you’re thinking about joining Northern Youth Abroad one day, my advice is simple: say yes. You never know where the experience will take you or the people you’ll meet along the way. I came here expecting to learn about a new place, but I’m leaving with unforgettable memories, new friendships, and a second family I’ll always be thankful for.

Hi!

My name is Helen, and I am from Fort Liard. Some of my favorite hobbies are listening to music, spending time with my friends and family, socializing, and snowboarding during the winters. I enjoy trying new things and exploring new places, which is one of the reasons I decided to join the NYA program this summer.

The NYA program gives northern students the opportunity to travel to southern Canada, gain hands-on work experience, continue their education, and learn more about themselves. I joined because I wanted to explore different career options and start thinking about what I want to do in the future. Although I wasn’t completely sure which path I wanted to take after school, I knew this would be a great opportunity to step outside my comfort zone, experience something new, and grow as a person.

This summer, I have been staying in Hamilton, Ontario, with my host family, Jeneka and her daughter, Tsuanna. They have been incredibly kind and welcoming. Being away from home can be challenging at times, but they have helped me feel comfortable, supported, and included. I truly appreciate everything they have done to make my stay enjoyable.

For my internship, I have been working at the Hamilton Regional Indian Centre. It has been an amazing experience because I have had the opportunity to learn new skills, meet new people, and see how the organization supports the community. Everyone has been friendly and welcoming, and I have enjoyed learning from the staff while gaining valuable hands-on experience. This internship has helped me build confidence and given me a better understanding of what it’s like to work in a different environment.

Outside of work, I have had the chance to experience so many things that I had never done before. I visited shopping malls, tried a variety of restaurants, and attended concerts with great live music. I also went to a summer music festival, which was a lot of fun and gave me the opportunity to experience something different. One of my favorite experiences was attending a powwow, where I enjoyed the dancing, singing, and the strong sense of community. I also went to a pool party, which was a fun way to relax and spend time with others in the program. To celebrate Canada Day, I watched the fireworks, and it was a great way to end the evening.

One of the best parts of this experience has been meeting people from different places and learning about their cultures and life experiences. It has been interesting to hear everyone’s stories, make new friendships, and create memories together. Every day brings something new, whether it’s learning at my internship or exploring Hamilton and the surrounding area.

As the summer continues, I look forward to meeting even more people, trying new experiences, and learning as much as I can. I hope this opportunity will help me gain a better understanding of the career I want to pursue in the future. Even though I don’t have all the answers yet, I know this experience is helping me grow, become more independent, and build confidence in myself.

I am incredibly grateful to be part of the NYA program and thankful to everyone who has made this opportunity possible, especially my host family and the staff at the Hamilton Regional Indian Centre. This has already been an unforgettable experience, and I am excited to see what the rest of the summer has in store for me.

Hello! My name is Nika Angelique Arrowmaker.M, I’m from Gamètì, Northwest Territories. Which fun fact is one of the four Tłįcho communities located in the NWT. I’ve been staying in Kingston, Ontario for my summer placement with my buddy Addy!

During my time here we’ve been exploring and taking the opportunity to do things independently. At first I was a little lost and didn’t know how I would adjust to being away from home and my dog, but having my host mom Erin support and help me find ways to fill the void was really nice, especially with the help from Arlo (her dog) made everything felt like home.

When I first stepped foot on the plane I didn’t know I was about to experience one of the best trips of my life. There’s something powerful about stepping into places that are unfamiliar. For me, it was realizing how much of the world was out there and wanting to experience it all.

It’s something we must make time to do in our lives. It’s way to easy to get stuck in our routines and flow of life and what we’re used to and what we know. Travel doesn’t just open your eyes, it changes who you are inside, how you see the world, and will literally help you become the best version of yourself.

I work at the Kingston Native Centre and Language Nest where everyone is welcomed and each day you never know how much you can impact people’s life by simply being in their presence.

I love my work because the centre is a place of support and reconnection that offers cultural and western supports, to children, youth, and elders. The centre is a safe place of openness and acceptance for all who wish to learn.

I highly encourage everyone to visit the centre if they are in Kingston! My favourite thing about the centre is the people and how everyone cares for each other no matter their background.

I’ve met some awesome people during my time here, from visiting the local park, exploring the downtown shops, and even talking to pet owners during our walks. Noticing how open everyone is to sharing their stories and letting us pet their pets made every experience here worth sharing.

Despite not being used to travelling alone, figuring out the bus, almost missing the bus, getting off the wrong stop, meeting new people is the kind of life I look forward to!

It’s a privilege to experience and learn other cultures while I’m young and I feel grateful for these kind of opportunities everyday <3

A person from my work said:

“Do something in your day that makes your soul feel alive whether that be your job, a hobby, or even a person, find people around you that wanna light you up and be happy for your successes. Everybody is destined for more.”

Northern Youth Abroad is an amazing start for just the beginning.

My name is Addyson and I’m from Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories. I’m 16 years old and currently on my way to graduating from high school. My sister did Northern Youth Abroad when she was my age and told me I should do it as well. This is a picture one of the NYA staff took while me and my buddy saying goodbye to our friend. She was going on a bus to the airport, and this was the last time we saw her before she left for her host family. We’re all looking forward to sharing stories once we get back for Re-Orientation in a few weeks.

I got to Kingston on June 20th. The squirrels here are MASSIVE compared to the ones back home, and they’re a little scary. I work at Martha’s Table, which is a community food center that offers food and supplies to people who may have little to no access otherwise. My favourite part of working at Martha’s Table is that I get to eat lunch there everyday and get to know the regulars. 

In Kingston I’m staying with my host mom Erin and her dog Arlo. My favourite thing about Arlo must be his annoying younger brother vibe. Me and my host buddy have been going out to the movie theater and watching scary movies. Something I am really looking forward to is getting my new ear piercing next month. I also really like the other people I’ve met through NYA, they are cool beans.

This is Erin’s dog Arlo. He is like an annoying younger brother. He steals food and even my lotion! He barges into my room all the time for cuddles. He’s  annoying, but I love him. I’ve even taken him for walks.

Hello, my name is Natalie Joss and I am from Ulukhaktok, Northwest Territories. There are about 500 people, we are located in the Inuvik Region, and we are situated on Victoria Island. I want to thank my principal for being my mentor and encouraging me to do this program. (shout out Nick!) 

I am a participant for the Canadian Program in Northern Youth Aboard, and my host community is Orleans, Ottawa. It’s been a wonderful experience so far, and it is very beautiful here. During orientation, I made so many new friends, and they’re so amazing. At orientation, the staff had taught us so many things about being in huge cities, being away from family, and experiencing new things. 

This is not my first time across the country, but it is my first time in Ottawa. It is very beautiful here in Ottawa, and very hot. Everything is a wonderful journey, a huge experience, and something I would recommend to anyone. Because you get to make new friends, see new places, and gain a lot of work experience for the future. 

My work placement volunteer hours are being done at Orleans Heritage Spring Living Retirement Home, which was pretty cool. I served the seniors lunch, dinner, coffee, tea, and desserts. Then I am starting to help with more activities with the seniors.

My placement buddy is Rosalie Yukon, and I am so glad we get along so well. When I found out she has four younger brothers and one younger sister, I was like “what the heck”, because I have four younger sisters and one younger brother and we’re the oldest. We also have the best host mom ever, she’s amazing. We have plans for every single day of the week, and it’s just so much fun to do a lot of things with Tessa and Rosalie.

Greetings to you all, tall and small. I am Ezra, a proud participant of Northern Youth Abroad Next. I am 17 years old, and I come from a community of 2,000 people.

Northern Youth Abroad Next is a program that lets the youth of the NWT and Nunavut territories travel and discover job opportunities, education, and volunteer opportunities throughout Canada. Youth from the north are given the chance to learn, grow, and discover new things they may not have known or been taught in school. NYA also helps plan your future, or at least get you started on planning if you’re still unsure.

The Participants of NYA Next work together on assignments, activity planning, volunteer work, and trades for post-secondary. We played games, traversed the city, cooked/baked together, and even did a bit of music production together, all with laughs and supporting one another when things got a bit rough.

Despite not being used to the heat,I had a great time being lucky enough to be selected for this program. Both the fellow participants and staff were fun to work with, and every day was a new lesson and adventure. We have a lot of pictures of us working together, cooking/baking, volunteering, and just having fun as a group.

NYA Next taught me a lot about living in the city, volunteering, fundraising, and working in groups. I feel lucky to have met the staff and other participants, and would love to work with these people again someday. The staff showed a great deal of patience, knowledge, empathy, and understanding. There were very few moments where I wondered “how long is this gonna last?” because it felt like I was experiencing something new at a consistent rate, even if things slowed down or went irregularly fast.

I recommend Northern Youth Abroad to anyone who is still unsure of their future and would like something to give them a good start, as I now have a clear vision for my own future and am ready to set foot in the real world because of this program.


Sincerely,
Ezra Maksagak

Hello, I’m June Sanspariel, and I’m from up Behchoko, The Northwest Territories. I’ve been staying at Algonquin College, and it’s a lot bigger than I assumed (I didn’t think about the size or space it might or might not have). Before I travelled, I had already forgotten about the Canada map and where the cities are. So, I looked up Ottawa and was excited about how far I would be travelling for my trip.

I’ve been living where I am for so long that whenever I leave, I don’t want to return. My niece used to go to this College, and I would try to talk to her frequently and keep in touch. The last few times I had heard from her during her time living here, it was raining a lot, and she was always unprepared for the weather. I did not expect this much humidity and heat to last this long. It’s a lot more challenging than I’ve described. I refuse to talk about that, though, because I believe people can bear anything if they’re encouraged to. I was encouraged to continue with my placement.

We did welding as our first trade class, and I really dreaded it. Welding has never been for me. I’m pretty decent at it, but it’s just not my thing. Carpentry is what I’ll pursue the most in trades. I’ve been doing it since grade 9 (I’m now heading towards 11), and I’ve grown fond of it, enjoying the process of building.

My summer here has been really refreshing. At first, I had tight schedules and barely enough free time to relax, but I enjoy that. I signed up to stay busy and not have enough time to laze around. It’s been tiring, and we do a lot here, from our group activities to volunteering, but nonetheless, I love the work. We’ve been mostly working in the heat for our volunteer hours, and I never want to be down south during the summer again. The weather report says about 32 degrees, but we’ve been working during heat warnings. I worked at a garlic farm during a 40-degree day, picking garlic from the ground. I don’t think I’ll ever let myself sweat as much as I’ve had to.

Hello, my name is Lucy, I’m 19, and I’m from Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories. Fort
Simpson has a population of about 1,300 people, we’re located in the southwestern area of the Dehcho region, and we’re a part of the Dene First Nations. Fun fact, we’re also the only village in the NWT! I’d like to start out by saying how lucky I am to have been given an opportunity like this, and I am very grateful to the staff and volunteers who make this program possible in the first place. Thank you.

I joined the Next program thanks to the encouragement of my teacher (hi Jill) and my bestfriend (hi Kesha, maybe you’ll have seen this before I’ve told you about it, haha. Also happy birthday :>).

The goal in this program is to let youth experience city life and experience different paths in life to see if maybe they’ll find something they want to do in the future, after they’ve graduated. And I’m immensely proud to say that I’ve found something that interests me thanks to this. In the next program, myself and 14 others stayed in Ottawa for the summer (from July 3rd to July 30th). Ottawa is huge, I’ve literally never been in a place so big (with a population of over 1mil??).

Since moving here for 4 weeks, I’ve had many opportunities to build healthy habits (like waking up and getting ready on time, or stretching everyday) and foster both confidence in myself and independence in my life. Everyday is a new chance to grow, whether it’s learning to live on my own, or meeting new people, or trying new foods.

Being away from home for so long (especially considering I had already been away for a
week) means it’s often that I was homesick, wishing to be back with my family and friends, in my own home, in my own bed. But the staff and other participants here are very supportive, so I’ve done fairly well here (and now I’ve only got about a week left here).

I have to say, this program definitely tested me. For the first two weeks I was here, there was a heat warning. Meaning that for most days, it was over 28° (I can firmly say I am very ready to go back home where it’s 23°). Combined with the endless work I’ve been doing, assignments, volunteering, and workshop classes, has been very hard on me (and my poor feet). But overall, so far, this program has been very rewarding. In the beginning, I was so sure I’d cave and end up going home because I was scared, but I stuck it out and I’m very proud of myself. Gotta say, though, it’s genuinely so crazy going from a population of 1,313 people to Ottawa’s 1,089,319 (as of July 23rd, 2025).

Overall, being in such a big place has been such an awesome experience. I know more
about what I want for my future, I learned about my financial options for college/uni (thanks to the workshop classes), and I’ve met so many cool new people (including, but not limited to, the 14 other participants, the 4 group leaders who gave their time to live alongside us, Dan, and the volunteers who taught us about their careers).

I’ve learned a lot in my time here and I’m very excited to finally go home and tell everyone I love all about it. I really can’t wait to see where I go from here (I’m so jealous of future me, I wanna know if I did it!).

• Lucy