Ontario youth travel to Alberta for community project

Monday, May 8th, 2017 4:17pm
Youth from Sarnai-Lambton, joined here by YMCA and sponsor Nova Chemicals, are traveling to Alberta this August as part of a YMCA leadership program. (Photo: YMCA Project North)

About a dozen Grade 9 to Grade 11 students from Walpole Island, Aamjiwnaang and Kettle & Stony Point First Nations, Sarnia and Petrolia will be traveling to Alberta this summer, visiting historic sites, local youth and hiking through the Rocky Mountains.

“With it being the 150th (anniversary of Canada), we want to celebrate being youth in Canada,” said Joe Cebulski, leader of YMCA Project North.

This is the third time for the program, which started in 2013 to teach students about philanthropy, community engagement and leadership.

Previous trips were to Kenya in 2013 and Guatemala in 2015, where the students connected with the locals and helped build public infrastructure like a classroom and community centre.

While the community project for this year is still being determined, the plan is to team up with First Nations youth in Alberta, as well as YMCA youth outside of Calgary and Lethbridge.

Nova Chemicals has donated $50,000 towards the program and the youth group is aiming to fundraise another $25,000, for travel costs and also the community service work.