Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

QIKIQTARJUAQ/BROUGHTON ISLAND - Adrian Toomasie is always ready to lend a hand.

The Grade 11/12 student volunteers regularly around Inuksuit School, at special events and fundraisers, according to his teachers.

"I want to help people," he said.

The 17-year-old was a big help at a recent fundraising event for a school sports team, according to Tara Johnson, who teaches math, science, and career and technology studies at the school.

"He's not even a member of the badminton team, and no one told him to help out, but he volunteered right away for a recent fundraiser," she said. "He just jumped right in, helped decorate cakes, sell tickets and clean up."

His attendance is great, and he's usually at school early, she added.

When not busy volunteering, hanging out with friends or doing schoolwork - his favourite courses are science and math - Toomasie has been working on applications for travel programs.

"I'm applying for Northern Youth Abroad and for Encounters with Canada. I'm interested, I want to get more confidenc e... and travel," he said.

So far, Toomasie has made it as far as Nunavut's capital.

"I went down to Iqaluit in 2006 for Nunavut Youth Parliament," he said.

That's where he caught the travel bug.

"I met a lot of people," he said.

Toomasie is the second youngest out of three brothers and two sisters. He said his family is very supportive of his dream of travelling.

"I think they're proud of me," he said.

He said not sure yet what he'll do after he's finished high school, preferring to "keep it open" for the time being.