Volunteers happy to be here

Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Sep 19/03) - Jessica Knox came to Fort Providence from Toronto by way of Montreal late last month.

One might expect there was quite an adjustment period, but there are more similarities between the locales than meets the eye, according to Knox.

For instance, many of the same things that are popular in the south are popular here, due greatly to television and the Internet.

"It's the global village for you," said Knox. "I've felt surprisingly at home since I got here."

She sees and hears about the latest fads and trends from students at Deh Gah school, where she is volunteering with the Frontiers Foundation. She spends her days assisting in the classroom and helping with extracurricular activities such as cross-country running.

"I wanted to see the North and do community service," said Knox, 22, who plans to pursue a Ph.D. in neuroscience.

In Fort Simpson, Rosie Spooner and Eric Beaudoin, also working with the Frontiers Foundation, said they too are comfortable in their new environs.

"The people are so welcoming... it's really nice. It reminds me of where I was born and raised," said Beaudoin, referring to his hometown of Beauceville, which is about an hour south of Quebec City.

Beaudoin and Spooner are both students at Pearson College in Victoria, B.C. The college hosts 200 students from 80 countries and promotes international understanding. Michael Nadli, Richard Lafferty, Gerry Antoine, Kevin Menicoche and Bobby Villeneuve are among Deh Cho residents who have attended Pearson.

Spooner, who hails from East London, England, had spent the past two years volunteering in India.

"I think the North is very, very lucky. They have a lot going for them... many opportunities and chances," she said.

Although Spooner and Beaudoin are planning to go on to medical school -- Beaudoin wants to serve with Doctors Without Borders -- they are happy to be experiencing Deh Cho culture and helping local students for the time being.

"I've been lucky," said Beaudoin. "I've received from the world and I want to give back to the world."