LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - For five days last week cadets in Fort Simpson shared some of what's best about life in the North.

Between March 11 to 15 the 2860 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps in the village played host to 22 sea cadets from Ajax and Pickering, Ont. The visit was the first half of a cadet exchange.

Fort Simpson cadets Cpl. Janelle Bruneau, standing right, and Cpl. Ernest Tsetso race against Lance Cpl. Reannda Cli of Fort Simpson, standing left, and Able Seaman Mary-Anne Dyke of Ajax, Ont. Dog sled training was one part of an inter-provincial cadet exchange that was held in the village. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

The Fort Simpson corps applied to Regional Cadet Support Unit North and was accepted for the exchange program, said Lt. Steve Nicoll. Every year one corps in the region acts as a host while another travels on exchange.

As hosts 22 cadets in Fort Simpson showed their sea cadet counterparts what the village has to offer. Together the cadets participated in an outdoor orienteering event, went on a night hike to view the northern lights and tried their hands at doing beadwork on moosehide. The cadets also participated in a number of Beavertail Jamboree events including the corporate challenge, feast and the youth talent show.

The primary activity for the exchange, however, was a two-day introduction to dog sled racing led by Grant and Carol Beck of Beck's Kennels from Yellowknife.

The cadets learned how to feed and water the dogs as well as get them into harnesses. After practising pedaling the sleds, the cadets were able to race teams of four dogs around the loop road at the Papal site.

The dog sled racing was a learning experience and a chance to try something new, said Able Seaman Aditya Manipadavu from Ajax.

Manipadavu, 13, said he was excited when he found out that his corps was coming North.

"You don't get the opportunity to come up to the Northwest Territories every day," he said. "It's once in a lifetime."

Manipadavu said he really enjoyed the night hike across the snye and up the ski hill to look for the northern lights. It's not cold enough to walk across rivers in Ajax or Pickering and with a combined population of about 200,000 there are too many people to get much solitude.

Manipadavu said he was struck by the difference in the weather between Ajax-Pickering and Fort Simpson and the close-knit nature of the community.

"Everyone here is like a family," he said.

For Able Seaman Megan Fairless the highlight of the trip was doing beadwork on moosehide.

"It's just really amazing that we can do the exchange," she said.

Fairless, 12, said she noticed a difference in the respect village resident show each other. At the feast they let the elders go first and in Ajax-Pickering everyone would have just pushed and shoved, she said. Fairless said she enjoyed her time in the village.

"I like pretty much the whole essence of it," she said.

Being hosts was really exciting said Lance-Cpl. Robert Harold and Master Cpl. Lonnie Wright.

Before their arrival, Wright wondered what the Ontario cadets would be like.

"They have different slang and they act differently," she said.

Despite the differences Wright, 14, said some of the cadets reminded her of her own friends. Both Wright and Harold are looking forward to next year when they will travel to Ontario.

"I think it will be really fun," Harold said.