Behchoko youth learns new skills through Northern Youth Abroad
Ethan Zoe helps run business at Ontario work placement
Kassina Ryder
Northern News Services
Monday, August 17, 2015
OSGOODE, ONT
Ethan Zoe says his work experience in a family-run bakery in Ontario this summer could inspire him to become a small business owner.
Bechchoko's Ethan Zoe, 17, spent his summer in Osgoode, Ont., participating in the Canadian phase of Northern Youth Abroad. - photo courtesy of Ethan Zoe |
The 17-year-old from Behchoko just returned home after spending his summer in Osgoode, Ont. with Northern Youth Abroad (NYA).
While living with a host family, Zoe spent his days working at Clarmell Farms Bakery. There, he did everything from bake cookies to help fill out purchase orders.
Zoe said he made sure staff knew that he was willing to learn whatever they wanted to teach him.
"I did basically whatever they asked me because I was up for everything," he said. "I went into the city with them for a supply run and that was really fun."
Zoe said he even learned how to set up and follow a budget.
"They did their own budgeting, so I learned how to do that," he said.
Although he isn't yet sure what kind of a business he might like to run, Zoe said he enjoyed the idea of being his own boss.
"It seems nice to work on your own time," he said. "I just kind of want to do my own business, whatever that may be."
He especially enjoyed working as a member of a family team, he added.
"I worked with a family and they were nice," he said. "I liked the people I worked with and the job I did. They were really fun."
Zoe said he learned how to bake foods he'd never made before, such as pies and granola bars.
He said although he was able to eat in a variety of different restaurants and was constantly being introduced to new foods, one of the biggest things he missed about home was his mother's cooking.
"I never had caribou and I like caribou," he said. "I really missed my mom's cooking."
In addition to his work at the bakery, Zoe made sure he spent time having fun. It was his first trip to Ontario and he said he wanted to make the most of it.
He went to the Calypso Waterpark in Ottawa and visited the Parliament buildings. However, he said, a trip to the Museum of Civilization was one of the best parts of his trip.
"That was really cool, seeing all the totem poles and whatnot," he said.
Now that he's returned home, Zoe said he's already setting his sights on being ready for the international phase of NYA next year.
"I really want to do that," he said. "It seems like a lot of fun."
