WHALE COVE - A group of students at Inuglak School in Whale Cove are thrilled to be part of the first exchange program in recent memory that their school has participated in.

Among the Whale Cove students headed for Ontario this week in an exchange program are Kayla Jones, Roberta Enuapik, Samson Taipanak and Gilbert Kabloona, front row from left, and Gordon Jr. Okalik, Wayne Putulik, George Jr. Okalik, Andrew Noble, exchange leader, Joachim Angoo, Joey Arualak and Paul Qiyuk, back row from left. Missing from photo are Marianne Hapanak, exchange co-leader, and students Kim Anguk, Jashua Ussak, Irma Joy Voisey, Barb Ulurksit and Megan Angootealuk. - photo courtesy of Andrew Noble

The 15 students, a teacher and a parent will begin their journey to Bracebridge, Ont., tomorrow, Feb. 17, and will return to Whale on Feb. 26.

Whale Cove will reciprocate and welcome 15 students and two teachers from Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School from March 9-15, as part of the YMCA Youth Exchanges Canada Program.

The program promotes cross-cultural awareness and a sense of belonging among Canadian youth aged 12 to 17, with travel costs provided by the Government of Canada through Exchanges Canada.

Inuglak School has a full slate of activities awaiting the Ontario youth, including cultural workshops in traditional skills such as iglu building, land survival skills, skin preparation and sewing.

The students will also do some ice fishing, view an Inuit Games demonstration, and learn a bit about kite skiing, cooking, Inuit history, the Northern environment and elder storytelling.

Inuglak teacher Andrew Noble heard of the exchange program this past October from Tom Hampton, who once taught in Whale. Noble will travel with the students to Ontario along with Marianne Hapanak, the mother of a participating youth.

Noble said he jumped at the chance to take part in the program when asked by Hampton.

He said everything just took off from there.

"We've been fundraising like crazy for this, and it's been a real community effort up to this point," said Noble.

"We appreciate all the support we've received from parents, regional Co-op managers and our hamlet. Everyone's jumped on board to help make this happen and the whole town's excited about it. "

Noble said to say the Inuglak students are excited about the exchange program would be an understatement.

He said a number of the youths taking part haven't had the chance to do much travelling, especially outside of the Kivalliq region.

"They're really looking forward to the opportunity to travel and, just as importantly, to represent their community and highlight their culture.

"This will be a real learning experience for both groups of students."

Noble said he doesn't expect the Inuglak students to go overboard with all kinds of crazy and exotic activities while in Ontario.

He said they're looking forward to experiencing the kind of daily activities southern youth often take for granted.

"They're looking forward to being able to go out to a restaurant, do some bowling and enjoy a bit of the outdoors.

"However, we do have rather special plans for our last day in Ontario.

"We're getting up early to head into downtown Toronto to visit the CN Tower and, maybe, check out the Hockey Hall of Fame and do the whole downtown city thing.

"A few students will have their minds blown by downtown Toronto, that's almost a certainty."

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