Katimavik
Encyclopedia
- For the choir founded in 1970, see Ensemble Vocal KatimavikEnsemble Vocal KatimavikEnsemble Vocal Katimavik is a choir of about 60 singers founded in 1970 in Quebec by Roger Lessard. It is also a non-profit organization that contributed to foundations against breast cancer by producing a compact disc.-History:...
- For the school, see Katimavik Elementary School
- For the structure at Expo 67, see Canadian PavilionCanadian PavilionThe Canadian Pavilion at Expo 67 was designed by Toronto architects Rod Robbie, Dick Williams and Colin Vaughan. The pavilion featured an inverted pyramid structure as well as a walk through attraction called the "People Tree." The pavilion had its highest single-day attendance on Canada Day , 1967...
Katimavik (Inuktitut
Inuktitut
Inuktitut or Eastern Canadian Inuktitut, Eastern Canadian Inuit language is the name of some of the Inuit languages spoken in Canada...
: "meeting place") is an organization which educates Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
youth through volunteer work. Katimavik provides opportunities for young Canadians to participate in intensive six-month periods of volunteer service through the following themed programs: "Cultural Discovery and Civic Engagement", "Eco-citizenship and Active Living", "Second Language and Cultural Identity", "Eco-internship" (Éco-stage), and "Katimavik Horizon". In each program, volunteers live with approximately 10 other youth in two different regions of the country, work full time for not-for-profit organizations, and engage in an educational curriculum in which volunteers improve their second official language, learn about environmental stewardship and Canadian cultures, and develop a healthy lifestyle and leadership skills. During the 2011-12 program year approximately 1,150 young Canadians will volunteer in a Katimavik program.
Overview
Each Katimavik program consists of groups of 11 youths aged 17 to 21 who are drawn from all across CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. They travel together to one or two different places in Canada for a period of six months. During the 2007-2008 program year there were 99 such groups spread across Canada. Each participant volunteers for about 40 hours per week and completes a learning program that focuses on Canada's official language
Official language
An official language is a language that is given a special legal status in a particular country, state, or other jurisdiction. Typically a nation's official language will be the one used in that nation's courts, parliament and administration. However, official status can also be used to give a...
s, protecting the environment, leadership, cultural diversity
Cultural diversity
Cultural diversity is having different cultures respect each other's differences. It could also mean the variety of human societies or cultures in a specific region, or in the world as a whole...
, and leading a healthy lifestyle. Each year, more than 500 community non-profit organizations are assisted by Katimavik volunteers doing full-time work for them. Katimvaik has volunteer projects in all 10 Canadian provinces and 3 territories.
As an organization, Katimavik has its national headquarters in Montréal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. It has a series of regional officers. Its regional office for the Atlantic and Quebec region is also based out of Montréal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. For the Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
region, the head office is located in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
. Finally, for the North, Pacific and Prairies region the organization's regional office is located in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
. With each group in the regions a Project Leader lives with the group and supervision is overseen by Project Coordinators.
History
Katimavik was incorporated under the name OPCAN as a non-profit corporation by letters patentLetters patent
Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch or president, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, title, or status to a person or corporation...
dated January 26, 1977 pursuant to Part II of the Canada Corporations Act. It was started by Pierre Elliott Trudeau's government and then Senator Jacques Hébert
Jacques Hébert (Canadian politician)
Jacques Hébert, OC was a Canadian author, journalist, publisher, Senator, and world traveler having visited more than 130 countries.-History:...
as well as then Minister of National Defence
Minister of National Defence
*Minister of National Defence *Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China*Ministry of National Defense *Ministry of National Defense *Minister of National Defence *Minister of National Defence...
Barney Danson
Barney Danson
Barnett Jerome Danson, was a Canadian politician and Cabinet minister.Barney Danson was born to a Jewish family in Toronto's Parkdale neighbourhood...
. Much of Katimavik's structure was taken from Canadian Cadet Organizations and the defunct Company of Young Canadians
Company of Young Canadians
The Company of Young Canadians was a short-lived Canadian youth program sponsored by the Canadian federal government, which existed from 1966 to 1977. It was inspired by the U.S...
. The program grew quickly in its initial years to its peak in the 1985-86 program year when there were more than 5000 participants. The program was cancelled that year by Brian Mulroney
Brian Mulroney
Martin Brian Mulroney, was the 18th Prime Minister of Canada from September 17, 1984, to June 25, 1993 and was leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1983 to 1993. His tenure as Prime Minister was marked by the introduction of major economic reforms, such as the Canada-U.S...
's new government. Founder Jacques Hébert went on a 21 day hunger strike
Hunger strike
A hunger strike is a method of non-violent resistance or pressure in which participants fast as an act of political protest, or to provoke feelings of guilt in others, usually with the objective to achieve a specific goal, such as a policy change. Most hunger strikers will take liquids but not...
in protest to no avail. He subsequently worked with then-Quebec region director Claude Raiche to continue Katimavik as an outdoor recreation
Outdoor recreation
Outdoor recreation or outdoor activity is leisure pursuits engaged in outside, especially in natural or semi-natural settings out of town...
training centre at Notre-Dame-de-l'Île-Perrot. It continued in this form until 1994 when Youth Service Canada helped Katimavik to form a 66-participant six project pilot program. The next year, the Government of Canada
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
's Department of Heritage provided the program with ongoing funding and the number of projects and participants tripled. The size of the program then continued to increase; during the 2005-2006 program year there were 1,155 partipants in 105 communities across Canada. In 2008 Katimavik was granted consultative status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council
United Nations Economic and Social Council
The Economic and Social Council of the United Nations constitutes one of the six principal organs of the United Nations and it is responsible for the coordination of the economic, social and related work of 14 UN specialized agencies, its functional commissions and five regional commissions...
which has allowed Katimavik to liaise with similar organizations in other countries and represent Canada internationally. Since Katimavik’s inception more than 31,000 youth have taken part in the program.
In 2006, Katimavik was told by the government that its funding was under review and that it was to cease recruitment activities. A letter-writing campaign was organized by Katimavik and funding levels were maintained until October 2010 when the government announced 3 year funding in the sum of $15 million per year, a reduction of approximately 25% from previous funding levels ($19.7 million). The CEO of the organization is currently Daniel Lapointe, who has a background in fund-raising for non-profits.
In terms of programming, Katimavik used to offer one core program which consisted of a 9 month volunteer experience in three different provinces or territories. In the 1980s Katimavik also offered a military option, an opportunity to spend 3 months on an army or navy base learning fundamental skills such as first aid and map reading, as well as basic military skills, such as drills and rifle handling. Since 1977, more than 30,000 Canadians have participated in this Katimavik program which has been staged in more than 2000 communities. In recent years, Katimavik diversified its program offerings. Katimavik launched an Eco-stage program in conjunction with the Government of Quebec
Government of Quebec
The Government of Quebec refers to the provincial government of the province of Quebec. Its powers and structure are set out in the Constitution Act, 1867....
which allows young Quebecers between the ages of 18 and 35 to gain experience in an environmentally-related career while drawing upon the educational expertise that Katimavik has built. Katimavik also launched a program called Katimavik North which focused upon pairing groups of youth between the ages of 18 and 25 that were half-composed of young Canadians from the territories and half-composed of young Canadians from the southern provinces; the groups then lived in both Canada's north and south in order to learn from each culture. Katimavik's current program offerings relate to the themes of "Cultural Discovery and Civic Engagement", "Eco-citizenship and Active Living", "Second Language and Cultural Identity", and the program "Katimavik Horizon" which combines all of the program elements into a less focused but more diverse experience. About these programs:
Katimavik Horizon
This six-month program provides an opportunity to live and volunteer in two different Canadian communities. The volunteers can shape the program based on the particular aptitudes and interests of thegroup.
Cultural Discovery and Civic Engagement
For six months youth volunteer in two distinct Canadian communities, one of which has a significant aboriginal population. This program is designed for youth who are interested in discovering the diversity ofCanada while engaging in meaningful volunteer service activities. Volunteers will explore the geography, history, economy and socio-cultural makeup of their host communities.
Eco-citizenship and Active Living
This program gives youth the opportunity to develop a healthy lifestyle and to thoroughly acquire an understanding of the important ecological challenges in a Canadian community where they will be locatedwhile participating in volunteer initiatives that promote environmental stewardship. Over the course of six months, volunteers obtain an in-depth knowledge and fully integrate in one Canadian community outside
the volunteer’s home province where they apply the principles of eco-citizenship.
Second Language and Cultural Identity
For six months youth volunteer in two Canadian communities: one Anglophone community in Western Canada and one Francophone community in Québec. This unique opportunity gives youth the chance to beimmersed in an intense linguistic and cultural experience while engaging in meaningful volunteer service.
Éco-stage
Éco-stage is for young Quebecois between the ages of 18 and 35 who want to engage in periods of work experience related to getting professional experience in the environmental sector.Application Process and Costs
Youth who apply to the program are randomly selected though groups are based on demographic factors such as mother tongue, sex and province of origin. Selected applicants must submit a completed doctor's examination and criminal record check. The program commences at different times of the year, including in the fall and spring.A selected group of eleven participants might include, for example, one from British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
/Yukon
Yukon
Yukon is the westernmost and smallest of Canada's three federal territories. It was named after the Yukon River. The word Yukon means "Great River" in Gwich’in....
, two from the Prairie provinces, Nunavut
Nunavut
Nunavut is the largest and newest federal territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, though the actual boundaries had been established in 1993...
and the Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
, four from Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, three from Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
and one from the Atlantic provinces
Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada is the region of Canada comprising the four provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec: the three Maritime provinces – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia – and Newfoundland and Labrador...
. These eleven youth will be between the ages of 17 and 21 (inclusive).
The Katimavik program receives financial support from the Citizen Participation Branch of the Department of Canadian Heritage
Department of Canadian Heritage
The Department of Canadian Heritage, or simply Canadian Heritage |department]] of the Government of Canada with responsibility for policies and programs regarding the arts, culture, media, communications networks, official languages , status of women, sports , and multiculturalism...
. Because of this there is no cost for travel, food, or accommodation. Additionally, participants are paid an allowance of $2 a day to cover incidental living expenses. All activities planned by the group are arranged under various learning budgets. Since there is rarely time for any extracurricular activities outside of the program, any sort of group activity expenses are paid for out of the group budget and have to be agreed upon by the group and the Project Leader, i.e. hiking, visiting cultural centers, theater and media presentations, etc. There is a $50 registration fee to apply to the program which covers the costs of processing applications and selecting participants. Additionally, there is a $175 participation fee that participants are expected to fundraise along similar lines to the Canada World Youth
Canada World Youth
Canada World Youth is an international non-profit organization dedicated to providing dynamic youth, ages 15–25, with an opportunity to learn about other communities, cultures and people while developing leadership and communications skills....
and Youth Challenge International
Youth Challenge International
Youth Challenge International originally known as Youth Challenge of Connecticut is a Christian organization founded by Bishop Raul Gonzalez, senior pastor of Glory Chapel International Cathedral in Hartford, Connecticut...
programs. This fee covers accident insurance and other administrative costs. There is also a $350 transportation deposit that is paid by volunteers upon departure and refunded upon completion of the program; if a volunteer leaves the program early this deposit is sacrificed in order to cover the increased costs associated with unplanned transportation home.
Program Life
Participants volunteer 35-40 hours a week and participate in workshops and activities with their fellow group members and Project Leader. Three groups in close communities form a "cluster" that may often meet up together for certain activities. Each cluster of four projects is monitored by a Project Coordinator.During the program participants can expect to abide by certain standards of behaviour which fall into four main categories: participation, health and safety,and respect. Participants are monitored by their project leader, one who lives with them during each phase to lead the project. Project leaders can issue verbal warnings, commitments to improve, final warnings, and expulsions if the behavioural standards are not followed.
Katimavik builds participants' skills during the course of the program by implementing five learning programs, comprising various essential activities and workshops. Katimavik also implements a learning plan, which uses an AARR educational model (Anticipation, Action, Reflection, Recognition) and follows participants through each community. Participants receive six letters of appraisal (3 from the project leaders, and 3 from work supervisors), as well as a certificate of completion upon completion of the program.
As well, while participants are in the program, they will spend a week of their time in each community living with a "host family". This is a family living in the community that has agreed to take on a participant (or 2). This allows the participant to take some time off from group life, while living with members of the community, and learning what it's like to be a local.
Learning Model
Every group, every three months, is given budgets of varying amounts in each the following categories: Cultural Discovery, Environment, Healthy Life Style, Second Languages and Leadership. This money is spent in ways that correspond to program's learning objectives. The goal of the program's educational component is to build the capacities of participants in the following key areas:- Interact with others in a variety of situations
- Adopt an open attitude towards the diversity of social and multicultural realities
- Communicate in both official languages
- Engage in diverse work experiences
- Apply habits that favor a healthy lifestyle
- Develop an integrated vision of environmental protection and sustainable development
- Engage as a citizen
- Prepare to integrate, as a citizen, into the job market, school or other life event
Partner Organizations
Katimavik volunteers work on a regular basis with Katimavik's community partners, which are charities and not-for-profit organizations that need volunteers to realize their projects and typically benefit marginalized and vulnerable social groups.Katimavik has also signed partnerships with a number of postsecondary institutions in Canada, including Vancouver Island University, Capilano University, Quebec's public community colleges (CEGEP
Cégep
CEGEP is an acronym for , which is literally translated as "College of General and Vocational Education" but commonly called "General and Vocational College" in circles not influenced by Quebec English. It refers to the public post-secondary education collegiate institutions exclusive to the...
), and George Brown College
George Brown College
George Brown College is a public, fully accredited college of applied arts and technology with three full campuses in downtown Toronto, Ontario...
in order for Katimavik participants to receive post-secondary credit for their experiences.