Katimavik's newest volunteers are coming

Prince George will be welcoming a new set of Katimavik volunteers this week as the most recent batch - who've been here for three months - head out to their next posting in Midland, Ontario.

"Because Prince George has been a community that has had Katimavik volunteers for a while was, we actually have some really solid ones that have been partners with Katimavik for a couple of years, like Red Cross, Railway Museum and Carney Hill - they've been regulars for a long time," said Rachel Walpert, Prince George's Katimavik project leader.

The departing group was instrumental in helping to complete the Universal board walk around the Ancient Forest. The trail is a circular walk around the inland temperate rain forest that is 2.3 kilometres in length and has been under construction since the summer of 2010.

The new young do-gooders from across Canada will be focussed on developing a sustainable project that benefits the community. Organizations benefitting from their endeavours include Prince George Railway and Forestry Museum, Le Cercle des Canadiens Francais de Prince George, Sacred Heart school, St. Vincent de Paul Society, The Canadian Red Cross Society and the Northern Pride Centre Society.

"It's not a work placement [this time] because the fall is too cold to work [outdoors]," said Walpert.

The previous team put in 35 hours a week of their time in a variety of capacities, including at the Two Rivers Art Gallery, Caledonia Ramblers, Prince George Public Interest Research Group, Canadian Diabetes Association, and Carney Hill Neighborhood Society. And that will also be the case with the new group.

"All the volunteers will be working Monday to Friday at other work placements," said Walpert. "Like the previous group, we're going to be meeting with organizations like the Caledonia Ramblers and other groups, and maybe going out of the weekends to help."

The 11 new volunteers are scheduled to arrive this week and will be staying in town for three months.

Katimavik promotes civic engagement and promotes sustainable communities through challenging national youth service programs.

"The non-profits get the benefit of having a full-time worker without having to pay them and then we get the benefit of having good organizations, that the [volunteers] gain good experience from," said Walpert.

Volunteers between the ages of 17 and 21 live with 10 other youth from across the country in one or two communities.

For more information visit www.gokatimavik.com.