STUDENT FOLLOWS IN DAD’S FOOTPRINTS WITH KATIMAVIK MISSION
Sally Russell has returned from a six-month volunteering mission, spending three months in Quebec City and three months in Calgary volunteering through Katimavik.
A local teen recently returned from a six-month volunteering jaunt with a new viewpoint and a clearer vision of her future.
Sally Russell spent time in Quebec City and Calgary in 2018 working with non-profit organizations through Katimavik.
The 19-year-old got home just in time for Christmas with her family in East City.
Katimavik is a registered charity that educates Canadian youth through volunteer work by providing opportunities to participate in intensive six-month periods of volunteer service.
Russell’s dad did it in 1979 — two years after the organization established — and it’d had been on his daughter’s radar for years.
After graduating from Adam Scott Collegiate in 2017, Russell went off to study design at Sheridan College.
She’d periodically check Katimavik’s website to see if and when the organization would be taking applications for its next mission.
Russell jumped at the first chance she got and landed a spot as one of 11 Canadian youth for 2018, out of about 150 applicants.
“I was just thrilled. I couldn’t think of anything I’d rather be doing the next year,” she said.
The timing couldn’t have been better for Russell. She’d just changed her mind about her direction in post-secondary and was able to take a break and gain valuable experiences.
“I got to experience things that I never would have without Katimavik. It was definitely a growing and learning experience,” she said.
In July, Russell was sent to Quebec City, where she volunteered with the Society of the St. Charles River. The St. Charles River runs through the city and was once a dumping ground, Russell said.
The society is working to improve the river and its surroundings by clearing the waterbed and enhancing the green space around it.
During the summer months, Russell worked at a marina, managing the canteen and promoting the Society of the St. Charles River’s work.
When the cooler weather arrived, Russell looked after the community gardens and helped to keep the walking trails and water clean.
“It was really cool. I felt really hands on and like a tangible difference was being made. I really loved that part,” she said.
After that, Russell and the rest of her group rode Via Rail across the country to their next mission in Calgary.
There, the young Peterboroughian was set up with Inn from the Cold, a housing and homeless shelter.
As part of the communications team, she was often front and centre, working at the front desk or helping at events.
The non-profit organization also put her college skillset to use, having her design event and info posters.
After six months of volunteering, Russell said she came home with a deeper appreciation for people’s differences and a new outlook, too.
“The biggest thing I walked away with is new perspectives and a better understanding of what I can see for myself in the future… the experience sort of brings you close with all kinds of people and all kinds of ideas and really makes you re-examine how you think of things.”
NOTE: To learn more about Katimavik, go to https://katimavik.org/en/