Through the YMCA Summer Work Student Exchange Program, we had the opportunity to live and explore Edmonton for six weeks, travelling all the way from Quebec. Honestly, it didn’t feel like six weeks at all! During our stay, we got to discover the city through a variety of activities, making time fly by.
Each week, we explored a different side of this incredible city. On the sports side, we cheered on Edmonton’s Riverhawks at a baseball game and challenged ourselves at an aerial park. From a historical perspective, we spent a whole day at Fort Edmonton Park and visited the Alberta Legislature. And on the artistic side, we explored the Art Gallery of Alberta and experienced the festive spirit of the city at K Days.
During the week, we also had the opportunity to work, and as the saying goes, “Choose a job you love, and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.” That truly applied to our experience. Working at the Alberta Aviation Museum was one of the highlights of our summer! From the friendships we made with our colleagues to the amazing days spent with the kids at Day Camps, every day brought something new.
There was also so much to learn along the way, including how to build a paper parachute! Being surrounded by aviation history and science gave us the chance to learn things we never would have discovered otherwise, and we’ll definitely be heading home with a lot more knowledge than we had when we arrived.
One thing we can both truly agree on is that these six weeks in Edmonton were an amazing experience. We’re incredibly grateful for everything we got to see, learn, and experience, and we’ll definitely be coming back one day!
What was your favorite activity organized by the program?
Caliana: I loved going to the Spelling Bee musical because it was my first time seeing a musical. It was incredibly funny, and I was amazed by how much energy and stamina the performers had to sing and dance for two hours. I also had such a great time with my friends, and I’m really glad we got to experience it all together.
Magaly: For me, visiting Fort Edmonton Park was the activity that left the biggest impression on me. I really enjoyed learning about the history they showed us, but what stood out to me the most were the horses I saw from a distance. For a long time, I had tried to put horseback riding behind me, but seeing those horses brought back a lot of memories. It was a really special moment for me.
What was the most unexpected moment at work?
Caliana: One moment that I think both Magaly and I really didn’t expect was getting to have a photoshoot dressed as pilots during a normal day at work. When we were told about it, I was so excited because not everyone gets the chance to experience what it feels like to be a pilot in their full uniform. It was such a fun and unexpected experience! We even got to take home two posters from our photoshoot, which will always remind us of that special day at work.
Magaly: One afternoon, Caliana and I were in the classroom preparing for a tour when I suddenly heard a sound that you don’t usually hear in a museum: the sound of baby ducklings! When we went downstairs, Caliana, some of the staff, and I tried to catch them. It only took us about five minutes to round up all six or seven baby ducks! Luckily, they were all safe and are now where they belong. It was definitely not something we expected to happen during a normal day at work!
What would you tell yourself six weeks ago, before coming to Edmonton?
Caliana: Bring a flame thrower for all these mosquitoes.
Magaly: Don’t change and be yourself. Everything will be good, just trust yourself.
What were your favorite things at Day Camp?
Caliana: I loved playing football with the kids at the end of the day while they waited for their parents to pick them up. I also really enjoyed building and crafting with them. Kids are so creative, and spending time with them reminded me of the joy I used to feel when I went to Day Camp myself. It was really special to experience that feeling from a different perspective.
Magaly: The last day of camp was one of my favorite days with the kids. By then, they were much more comfortable and open with us, which made it even more fun to spend time together. We played football, launched rockets, spent more time at the park, and even got to go inside the B-25 at the end of the day. It was the perfect way to finish our time at Day Camp!
What did the experience taught you?
Caliana: This experience taught me to embrace my adventurous side and step outside of my comfort zone. Traveling truly changes your perspective on the world. It introduces you to new people, new places, and new experiences that you might never encounter at home. When I go back home, I’ll definitely be more willing to take the initiative to explore and go on little “side quests,” because there is so much beauty in the world to discover.
Magaly: This experience taught me to believe in and trust myself more. I learned that I don’t always have to rely on others when I don’t know what to do. Sometimes, I’m more capable than I think, and I can figure things out on my own.