An artistic summer job
Kerrianna Lafferty spends summer in Ontario
Kassina Ryder
Northern News Services
Friday, August 12, 2016
HAMILTON, ONT.
Kerrianna Lafferty says her summer job with Northern Youth Abroad is allowing her to make the most of her love of art.
Kerrianna Lafferty says her summer job with Northern Youth Abroad is allowing her to make the most of her love of art. - photo courtesy of Thorsten Ghol
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"I can't really explain it. I like the feeling you get from painting," the 18-year old from Behchoko said. "I like painting, it's something I really enjoy. And sketching, those are my two favourite things I like to do."
Lafferty is living with a host family in Hamilton, Ont. and has a work placement at the Art Gallery of Hamilton.
Her job includes assisting with a summer art camp for youth.
"They're doing a lot of arts and crafts activities, painting and making sculptures, which is really neat," she said.
When she's not working, Lafferty said she's been spending time with her host family, including a trip to Toronto where she visited Ripley's Aquarium of Canada.
"I've never seen sharks before," Lafferty said.
They also went to the CN Tower.
"The lineup was extremely long going to to the top, but it was fun," she said.
Lafferty said while she's travelled to Alberta and British Columbia, this is her first time in Ontario.
"I've never been in this part of Canada before, which is really exciting," she said.
While she's experiencing many new things, her favourite part of the journey has been the journey itself, Lafferty said.
"I really like that, just travelling to places," she said. "It's the excitement you get from going somewhere."
Lafferty's host family is also planning trips to Stratford and Niagara Falls, she added.
Though many NYA participants deal with homesickness, Lafferty said she simply hasn't had time.
"I feel like my days are just filled with so much stuff to do that I don't have time," she said.
She said she would urge anyone thinking of participating in NYA to sign up.
"I would really encourage them to do this," she said. "It's a really changing experience, I would say."
Now that she's almost completed the Canadian phase of the program, Lafferty said she hopes to join the international phase next year. Though it's not yet known where the international trip will take place, Lafferty said she's willing to visit anywhere in the world.
"It's something I really, really want to do," she said.
Lafferty said she is scheduled to return to Behchoko on Aug. 17.
