Glen Korstrom
Northern News Services

NNSL (May 13/98) - Frederic Demers, who now works at the Yellowknife Women's Centre, was a die-hard Quebec separatist before joining the Canada World Youth program and venturing to Newfoundland and Jamaica.

The Katimavik program changed his mind.

The 21-year-old is up North for the first time and has worked terms in Peterborough, Ont., and Lac Bouchette, Que.

"What is Canada, I don't know," said Demers, who now calls himself both a Quebecer and a Canadian. "It's a lot of different cultures and there is a lot left to discover. That is Canada."

The third group of Katimavik students arrived in Yellowknife April 1 and is set to leave June 17. Ten students started as part of the program but two have dropped out. The rest are working at places like the Salvation Army, the French day care and the Abe Miller Centre.

The program provides an environment in which students can learn new skills, practise a second language, improve interpersonal and communication abilities while travelling around Canada.

The word Katimavik means "meeting place" in Inuktitut and it embodies the spirit of sharing that is at the heart of the program.

Participants must be between 17 and 21 years old and they are chosen for the program to create a cross section of the country, balanced between men and women, anglophones and francophones.

"We focus on personal development and we work on respect and a giving people their fair share," said Yellowknife coordinator Marie-Laure Chavanon.

Katimavik covers the cost of a participant's transportation, food, lodging and activities, plus a $3 daily stipend and a $1,000 bursary upon completion of the program.

The national program run by a private non-profit corporation and financed by the federal Department of Heritage.

For next year's program, interested Northerners must apply by Friday in order to secure a chance to participate in a random draw that takes place next Tuesday, May 19.

After that candidates will be selected depending on available places in each of Canada's provinces and territories.