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Posted By CHELSEY ROMAIN, THE DAILY PRESS

They may be new to the city, but participants in the Katimavik program are already well connected in Timmins through volunteerism.

On the weekend, the group hosted an open house to showcase the program.

Ten young adults, along with a project leader, arrived in Timmins less than a month ago.

"They are from all over the place," said project leader Brent Campbell, "literally from coast to coast."

Campbell said since they have arrived, members have already started their work placements. They work 40 hours a week at no cost to the organizations. Most will do administration work or general labour, pretty much whatever the organization needs help with, Campbell said.

"A lot of these organizations depend on volunteers and can't afford to pay a lot of staff members," he said. "They are depending on support and the more support they get, the better job they can do."

In addition to working with agencies such as the Timmins Native Friendship Centre, Canadian Red Cross and the Seizure and Brain Injury Centre, the group is also taking part in various community events.

Katimavik volunteers have helped out at the Shania Twain Centre's Halloween festivities and will work at Saturday's Santa Claus Parade.

While having the group in Timmins benefits the community, the program also offers huge benefits to participants.

"For a lot of them, this is their first time away from home," said Campbell. "A lot of them do (this) between high school and college.

"They receive three diverse working experiences and it gives them a better idea of what they want to do and maybe what they don't want to do."

Seventeen-year-old St. John,

N. B., resident Leah Kelly is the youngest of the bunch. Kelly went into the program because she didn't know what to do after graduating high school in June.

"I didn't want to stay at home and I didn't want to go to college right away," she said. "This is a good place to be independent and still have people around," she said.

It's the first time she has been away from home for longer than two weeks. Kelly said she misses her mom and her dogs, she has gotten used to being in the program.

"If I left here, I'd miss it all," she said. "We're all crazy for doing this, so we accept each other.

"We're all here and we have to be family."

Members are getting used to life in Timmins and preparing for the upcoming winter.

While Leah has already purchased a coat and boots made for -50 C weather, Burnaby,

B. C., native Nicholas Law is not so sure he's ready for the amount of snow Timmins gets.

"This is something I have never experienced before," said Law, who was born in Hong Kong and raised in Thailand before moving to B. C. eight years ago.

Law said he joined the program because he wanted to experience first hand the rest of Canada.

"The model of Katimavik has a lot to offer, " the 21-year-old said. "It brings young people from all over Canada together and I think it has a lot to do with Canada as a nation, of what we all have in common."

The group will be in Timmins until mid-January before setting off for Halifax and then Stonewall, Man., at which time another group of young adults will descend on Timmins.

Currently, the group is looking for billeting families, ready to take a participant into their home for 10 days beginning on Nov. 27.

Those interested can contact Campbell at 360-1953.

http://www.timminspress.com/Article....aspx?e=2158630