Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Sep 16/05) - Justin Trudeau was in Yellowknife last week to support the return of Katimavik to the North.

Trudeau, chair of the program's board of directors, gathered with Katimavik officials and community members on Saturday to discuss the future of the program.

Justin Trudeau

Katimavik is a volunteer program for 17-21 year olds. For nine months, groups of 11 live in three different communities in Canada doing 35 hours a week of volunteer service.

Funded by the Canadian Heritage department, the program is free for participants. They receive a daily allowance of $3 and a $1,000 bursary when they finish.

The program started in 1977, but was closed due to funding cuts in 1986. Restarted in 1996, the program is trying to rebuild its presence in the North.

"You can't understand the country without understanding the North," Trudeau said.

There were only 26 applicants from the NWT this year. There are also no communities in the North that host Katimavik groups.

"Today is about beginning a dialogue with the North," said Jean-Guy Bigeau, the program's executive director.

The Katimavik board held its quarterly meeting in Yellowknife to try and build partnerships with organizations in the North.

They also hope to make the program more relevant for Northerners, particularly aboriginal youth, said Chuck Blyth, the Northern representative on the board.

Trudeau was blunt about the challenges that the program faces in the North.

"It's about the money," he said.

Katimavik is already short on funds, and it costs significantly more to transport and house youth in the North, said Trudeau.

Approximately 10,000 youth apply every year, but there is only room for 1,100.

Another part of the problem, Trudeau said, is with so many job opportunities right out of high school, it's hard to convince Northern youth to volunteer for a year.

`Volunteers rave about the program. Gabrielle Laurence, originally from Ottawa, took a year off university for Katimavik. Living for nine months with a group of teens from very different backgrounds was an interesting experience and taught Laurence "everyone can get along. "

Laurence's adventure took her from Vancouver, B.C. to Bonnyville, Alta. and Mirabel Que. She volunteered in a youth mental health facility, an elementary school and a church.

"It opens your mind," Laurence said.