Yorkton Welcomes British Columbia Students for Exciting Exchange Program

Twelve high school students from British Columbia are visiting Yorkton, Saskatchewan, this week as part of the Experiences Canada exchange program. The group from Yale Secondary School in Abbotsford arrived on Thursday to engage in various activities, including a friendly basketball competition with their hosts at Yorkton Regional High School (YRHS).

The atmosphere in the YRHS recreation room was vibrant on Thursday afternoon as the two girls’ basketball teams prepared for a potluck meal. Charlie Szabo, a student at YRHS, expressed his initial thoughts on the exchange. “I thought it was going to be more different, but they’re pretty much like us,” he said, noting that while some aspects of school life differ, the students share many similarities.

Experiences Canada, a federal government-funded initiative, aims to encourage Canadians to explore their country through reciprocal exchanges. The Yorkton high school applied for the program in September, and Roby Sharpe, YRHS’s student activity advisor, highlighted the effort involved in making the exchange a reality. “It’s one of those things where you apply, and then… we were hoping it was all going to happen,” Sharpe said. “It’s a lot of moving pieces to finally put everything together. But we got it all together and they’re here now.”

The basketball teams were chosen for the exchange due to their manageable size, with twelve players on each team. Sharpe noted that the young Yorkton team provides a good opportunity for team building. “We have a couple of veteran Grade 12 girls, but only two of them,” he explained.

The exchange program commenced on a chilly Thursday when the B.C. students arrived in Saskatchewan. Sloane Mason, a student from Yale Secondary School, described her first impressions of the prairie landscape. “It was really flat. Like there wasn’t much to see, just lots of roads,” she said. She added that although the weather was expected to be around -30 °C, the day was not as cold as anticipated.

The students will spend five days together, participating in basketball games on Friday and Saturday. Sharpe shared the planned activities for the weekend, stating, “On Sunday we have an outdoor day to show them what Yorkton is all about. Probably skating, ice fishing, tobogganing, and a bonfire. We’ll do a roast, sleigh ride, stuff like that. And then it’s back to school on Monday.”

Even though the visiting team had just arrived, they quickly connected with their Yorkton counterparts during the potluck. The students gathered around a long table, cheering each other on as they took turns answering questions from local media.

Looking ahead, students from YRHS are scheduled to visit Abbotsford in February 2024. Evia McDowell, a YRHS student, expressed her enthusiasm for the upcoming trip, saying, “I’m excited to be outside when it’s not -30 °C out. I want to go hiking. And I love the mountains, so I feel like I just want to breathe that mountain air.” She also noted her eagerness to play basketball in British Columbia, stating, “I think it’ll be very fun to play basketball in B.C., because I’ve never done that before.”

The Experiences Canada exchange program not only fosters connections between students from different regions but also enriches their understanding of Canada’s diverse landscapes and cultures. As the Yorkton and Abbotsford students share experiences, they create lasting memories that extend beyond the basketball court.