Tundra Kids, B.C. Tree

The students are visiting Franco-Nord, one of 47 fully French-language schools in British Columbia that are part of the Francophone School District. For Pascale Bernier, the district’s superintendent, welcoming students from another minority Francophone community was especially meaningful.

“Being a Francophone school in an English province has its challenges,” Bernier said. “Being able to connect with other Francophone schools in minority-language settings, like this one in Nunavut, is amazing.”

Bernier said the district has organized similar exchanges in France, Quebec, and Guatemala. Each time, students come back with more than just a stamp in their passport.

She remembered one student who, during a trip to France, started a conversation with a local at a cathedral and was surprised to find she could understand and reply fluently.

“When they go out there and speak to other communities, they realize how strong their French is and how strong their identity is,” Bernier said. “That’s what makes those experiences so magical.”

Franco-Nord principal Nancy Guthier has planned a busy schedule for the visiting students, with trips to the Ancient Forest, Barkerville Historic Town, and the University of Northern British Columbia.

“We hope they leave with a great memory of this beautiful city,” Guthier said.

In Iqaluit, May usually brings cloudy skies and melting snow. Joseph said the change in Prince George has been striking.

“Around this time, it’s kind of cloudy, and the snow starts to melt back home,” he said. “It’s nice to see there’s actually a lot of sun and the skies are clear. It’s a pretty big environment change.”

The Francophone School District says the group that helped organize the Nunavut partnership is interested in expanding the program to more B.C. schools. District officials are also looking into whether Indigenous and Inuit students from their own schools could visit the North.

by Dave Branco

Tundra Kids, B.C. Tree

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