Let the Holidays Begin

Friday the 21st marked the start of the holidays. I through a little holiday gathering in my hobbit hole of an apartment and it was very enjoyable. It is always nice to get your friends together for some drinks and good conversation and it makes me feel very loved to have such great people in my life. After two years in Halifax I have finally secured a solid group of people to be in my life. What a wonderful way to start the next 10 days of celebrations.

..

..

Katima-Loss

I have been involved with Katimavik for most of my early adulthood. In 1995 I joined the program as a participant and lived in Belleville, ON, Acton-Vale, PQ and Hinton, AB. My choice to do the program came after a disasterous first year of university and since that time my life has been intertwined with Katimavik. In 1997 I joined the organization as a Project Leader and worked with 12 different groups of Canadian youth over 3.5 years. And in an interesting twist of fate I came back to Katimavik in 2006, this time as a regional manager. Much of my life has been influenced by Katimavik in one way or another. It has been a secondary home for me in many ways. I have been given a community of contacts around the country from my experiences. And I have come to believe in the importance of government-supported opportunities for youth.

Last night the founder of Katimavik passed away. Jacques Hébert was 84 and the creator of a legacy of youth initiatives including Katimavik and Canada World Youth. I met Senator Hébert in 1997 during my staff training for my first contract as Project Leader. His passion and commitment to the program was evident. I remember being amazed at his zest when, at the age of 74, he joined a hackey-sack circle on the lawn of the auberge. Since that time I have had the chance to work with other Katimavik staff who knew him well and to hear him speak in continued support of the program that was so valuable to me. I can only say that he will be missed, not just as the source of Katimavik but as a light that illuminated the necessity for youth development in Canada.