It took him a while, but Nick Muckpa is finally acclimatized to the weather in southern Ontario.
The 19-year-old resident of Arctic Bay, Nunavut says he sweat profusely during the first few days of his stay in the area, which was made possible through the federal Northern Youth Abroad program.
“I don’t want to leave this place,” Muckpa said, joking that he’s likely to catch a cold upon his return home, where the highest summer temperature is about 15 degrees Celsius and winter lows can reach -70 with the wind chill.
Muckpa told the Advertiser he is enjoying his stay with hosts Mark and Susan Thomsen of Guelph-Eramosa and also his work placement with the township’s parks and recreation department.
“The experience here is pretty good. I’ve learned a lot,” said Muckpa, who is fluent in English though his first language is Inuktitut.
Parks and recreation manager Robin Milne said he didn’t hesitate when asked about a job for Muckpa.
“I thought it would be a good opportunity for us and for Nick as well,” Milne said. He added Muckpa is learning a lot about life in the area, and likewise, his co-workers are learning about life in one of Canada’s most northern communities.
In addition to the climate, Muckpa cites several other big differences between the two areas.
“I had never seen a stranger for 19 years,” he said with a smile. According to the 2011 Census, the population of Arctic Bay was 823, and Muckpa said everyone there knows each other.
Yet despite the culture shock, particularly during visits to Ottawa and Toronto, Muckpa said his stay in Guelph-Eramosa has helped dispel some of the misconceptions he had about southern Ontario.
He was expecting to see very few trees but lots of huge buildings, and he also expected to witness a lot of violence, “But it’s not really like that.”
He laughs at the notion now, equating it to how some Ontarians assume he must live in an igloo.
Still, he marvels at the proliferation of cell phones here, and particularly their use amongst teenagers. But he likes the area, and in his free time enjoys swimming, basketball, playing musical instruments and visiting tourist sites.
With the township he has performed a number of duties, including lining ball diamonds, inspecting playgrounds and various other work at local parks such as Rockmosa and Lloyd Dyer Park in Rockwood.
“It’s a very different job from what I’m used to,” Muckpa said, explaining that back home, he works as a stock clerk at a Co-Op store, where he unloads shipments, fixes vehicles and completes various other odd jobs.
He added he likes working outdoors – “I’m not sweating as much as when I first came here,” he says with a laugh – and he enjoys spending time with his co-workers and also his host family.
“They’re pretty nice,” he said of the Thomsens, who are also hosting Bernard Angootealuk, a resident of Coral Harbour, Nunavut who is working at the Guelph Grotto Climbing Company, at their home north of Everton.
Muckpa is particularly thankful for the help of Mark Thomsen, who is helping him quit smoking – Muckpa notes about “90 per cent” of those in Arctic Bay are smokers.
Susan Thomsen said her family, which also includes sons Brian and Michael, decided to get involved with the Northern Youth Abroad program because it’s “within Canada” and offers opportunities to those who otherwise would not have them.
“We’re really impressed with the program,” she said. “It truly is an amazing experience; I would definitely recommend it.”
The experience has been overwhelmingly positive for everyone involved, she added, noting the best part is the personal bond formed between host and visitor.
“I never thought it would affect us so much,” Susan said. “They’ve sort of worked their way into our hearts.”
Muckpa, who will leave Guelph-Eramosa on Aug. 8 and return home on Aug. 13, acknowledged he has become close with his host family.
Ironically, it was a member of his own family back home who facilitated the “great” experience with his southern hosts.
“If it weren’t for my sister, I wouldn’t even be here,” Muckpa said, explaining his sister applied on his behalf to the Northern Youth Abroad program.
For information about the program, including a blog by participants, visit www.nya.ca.
