Nolan Bonnetcouge and Oliver Porter come from towns most Canadians have never heard of.
Bonnetcouge lives in Fort Providence, a hamlet of less than 800 people that is a six-hour drive southwest of Yellowknife. Porter hails from Gjoa Haven in Nunavut. His community has grown from 100 people in 1961 to 164 residents today.
When the two teenaged boys heard of the Northern Youth Abroad program, they jumped at the opportunity to branch out.
"It's awesome," Bonnetcouge said of exploring a big town - Squamish.
The not-for-profit program enables Nunavut and Northwest Territories youth aged 15 to 22 to acquire professional skills and training in southern Canada and abroad. For the summer months, Bonnetcouge and Porter are staying with Squamish resident Ken Perry and his son Justin.
Bonnetcouge is working at the Golden Crust Bakery and Porter is employed at the Brennan Park Recreation Centre. While Bonnetcouge worries he might gain weight at his new job, both the boys agree the experience is pretty cool.
"We went and stayed in Ottawa," Bonnetcouge added. "We met the governor general."
Northern Youth Abroad helps orient youth from small communities to larger communities without overwhelming them by placing them in major cities, Perry said. He liked the idea and wanted to get involved. During the participants' stay, the youth are given assignments. They include activities such as blogging their experiences and meeting with local politicians.
The program boasts results. Its alumni hold a 93 per cent high school graduation rate. But Bonnetcouge and Porter were focused on their next goal - to paintball in Squamish Valley.
"We hunt," Bonnetcouge warned, before laughing.
