Youth program came to the end of its current lifespan in Woodstock

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By Brigitte Marsden

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The Katimavik house doors on Pine Street were open wide last Tuesday night to welcome visitors to a celebration marking the end of the current program in Woodstock.

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PHOTO BY BRIGITTE MARSDEN

As well as providing an insight into what Katimavik is all about, it gave the eight students nearing the end of their eight month program the opportunity to express what they have learned and experienced.

Theopenhousealsomarkedtheend of an era: once the students packed up the house on Saturday and moved on to debriefing camp, 103 Pine Street will remain closed for the foreseeable future.

“After this program is ended, there will be no Katimavik here in Woodstock for now,” confirmed project leader Ceilidh Auger-Day. “It will be moving to French-speaking communities in New Brunswick, and also the base in Fredericton, which is relatively new.

But we are keeping on the house here in Woodstock.”

The move has been prompted in part by Katimavik’s policy of spending three to four years in a community before moving elsewhere, and in part by the desire to provide alternative French-speaking venues.

“Most of our French-speaking participants are from Quebec,” explained Auger-Day, “and for the trimester that’s spent in a French-speaking community, they would usually end up back in Quebec. This will give them the opportunity to experience some differences in language and culture.”

Several local employers who have provided work placements for Katimavik students took the opportunity to come to the open house and give their thanks and good wishes to the group.

Each employer was presented with a certificate from Katimavik, and, in turn, Jill Dunnett of the Woodstock recreation department presented each student with a certificate from the Town of Woodstock expressing recognition and thanks for their involvement in the community.

Debrah Westerburg of Sanctuary House was grateful for the help provided by Geneva McCall and the eight other Katimavik students who have volunteered there over the past three years.

“It’s given us a chance to know younger women better,” Westerburg noted. “We appreciate their strength and sense of humour. They’ve been really helpful and I’m going to miss them being involved.”

Geneva McCall, along with Luke Branson, also enjoyed volunteering with the Meduxnekeag River Association, carrying out projects including trail maintenance and gravel pit restoration. Both are now looking forward to “WOOF-ing” – working on eco projects with the Worldwide Organisation of Organic Farms – for the rest of the summer.

Each student had prepared a visual presentation about their time with Katimavik. Subjects included relationships in the group, making new friends, healthy eating, activities and work placements, growth in confidence, and changes in outlook and attitudes.

It was clear that everyone’s experience had been positive, with many saying their expectations of the program had been exceeded.

“There’s no TV,” explained Josh Corcoran, “so you have to communicate with each other. It helps to build the group.

“What did I get out of Katimavik? Friends. Life experience. I had my eyes opened to Canada and to the world.”

To find out more about Katimavik visit www.katimavik.org.