Photo: CamBay kids “encountering Canada” in Ottawa

Sebastian Malone, left, Lee Ann Ekpakohalok and Ethan Gillis-Kayogana, a trio of teenagers from Cambridge Bay, are in Ottawa this week attending the popular Encounters with Canada youth leadership program. Encounters with Canada has been offering youth programming for 34 years in the form of week-long conferences for youth on various topics. While in the city, youth learn about national institutions, meet accomplished Canadians and explore different career options. This week, the theme is “first responders” so participating youth will get to sample careers in policing, military, firefighting and emergency medical services. The Cambridge Bay youth are sponsored by the Ayalik Fund, set up to honour the life of Eric Ayalik Okalitana Pelly who died of a heart condition in December 2014. (PHOTO BY LAURIE PELLY)