PHOTO: The members of the two 4H exchange clubs are, back row from left, Meeka Bromley (ON), Payton Smith (AL), April White (ON), Morgan Evans (AL), Denver Graling (AL), Cameron Kuzma (AL), Graycen Smith (AL), Quaid Nicholson (ON), Wesley White (ON), Brooke Kotowich (AL), Hannah Faucher (AL), Sydney Ferguson (ON), Kyle Yaremko (AL), Masen Rice (ON) and Kinly Rice (ON). Middle row from left, Jenna White (ON), Autumn McIntyre (ON), leader Anne Bromley (ON), Wyatt White (ON), leader Anna McIntyre (ON), leader Nicole Leroux (AL), leader Monique Smith (AL), Erica McFarlane (ON) and Ashlynn Trefenanko (AL). Front row: Ethan Brousseau (AL), Sydney Leroux (AL) and Dustin Dubrule (Al).
by CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
WHITEWATER REGION — Young people in Renfrew County have more proof just how diverse Canada is.
The Renfrew County 4H Exchange Club recently hosted 12 members of the St. Paul’s 4H Multi-Club from Alberta.
Since February, the Renfrew County participants have been fundraising to ensure as hosts they provide an exciting time for the exchange members.
Since their arrival on July 24 and their departure on Aug. 2, the two clubs have been together non-stop. They went whitewater rafting, rock climbing, zip-lining and travelled to the islands on the Ottawa River.
On Friday, July 28 they all participated in their community service day, which was volunteering at the Beachburg Fair. Canadian Heritage paid for the flights of the members, with the stipulation that the participants give back to their respective community.
Standing before the opening night crowd at the Beachburg Fair, Autumn McIntyre and Cameron Kuzma spoke about the exchange.
“We both (the clubs) applied to 4H Canada and they paired our group together,” said Autumn. “We both have 12 members and two leaders.
“For the last four months, we did lots of fundraising, like trivia night, euchre, bake sales, a breakfast, spaghetti supper and hosted a lunch.
“With this money we planned events in our community,” she said.
Cameron noted that since the community service is being done at the Beachburg Fair, they will be ensuring garbage cans don’t get overfull, and will help out at the dairy show, the meet and greet table, the KidsZone, food prep and office duties.
Following a day at the Beachburg Fair, Graycen Smith and his mother Monique, from Alberta, sat down to discuss some of the differences they noticed in the first four days of their visit.
Each of the members, along with two chaperones from each club, were twinned, so there is always someone from the area they are staying with, with them.
Sydney Leroux said she was nervous getting off the plane because she had never participated in an exchange before. However, it didn’t take long before she was laughing and chatting with her ‘twin’ 4H member.
“We didn’t have a connection,” she said. “Now, we have a connection.”
As for this part of the country, Monique first noticed, “The roads are everywhere and you don’t have shoulders on many of your roads.”
Explaining, she said in Alberta the roads are set out in a grid-pattern. Also, with no shoulders, the opportunity for ending up in a ditch is greater.
Graycen noted the fields are much smaller and while farmers here measure in acres, Alberta farmers measure in quarter-sections, which is equal to 160 acres.
The houses are closer to the road and they are made from brick. In Alberta, there is mostly vinyl siding and stucco, Monique said.
Graycen said there are so many types of vehicles driven, while in their area of Alberta, it’s mostly lifted, diesel trucks.
Monique noted the milk is bagged here compared to jugged milk in Alberta.
One thing that upset Monique was how little recycling is done at the Beachburg Fair.
“Recycling is a major fundraiser for us,” she said. “That’s money being thrown away.”
There are also differences in the clubs, she said. There are many clubs in Renfrew County, while in Alberta, there is one club in their area, which is St. Paul’s Multi-Club. This club operates from November to June with the 4H taking the summer off. In Renfrew County, a club is 12 hours in length, which is five meetings plus an achievement night.
Also, the 4H in Renfrew County is tied into the fairs, while in Alberta, the 4H hosts Community Days so the people can come out and see what they are doing, a focus on the club.
The Alberta clubs earn points by doing various things, such as cleaning up along the highway, Graycen said.
The things they were looking forward to on their final few days was going to Killaloe to try a beavertail and going canoeing and building their own shelter near Nangor Resort. Their final day was going to the Royal Canadian Mountain Police horse stables, the Parliament buildings and participating in an Amazing Race event in Ottawa.
Their final event before boarding a plane to return home early Wednesday morning was the light show on Parliament Hill Tuesday night.
Members of the Renfrew County 4H Exchange Club said even though they did fundraise, the exchange wouldn’t have been as successful as it is without the financial support they received from Farm Credit Canada, sponsors and the community.
Monique and Anna McIntyre, a chaperone for the Renfrew County exchange club, believes this club is something they would like to see as many members participate in as possible.
“As a leader, it’s nice to see the kids come out of their shell,” Anna said.
Monique has a new appreciation for chaperones, recalling that when Canada was celebrating its 125th birthday, she participated in a 4H exchange, but never realized how much planning went into it.
“I have a whole new appreciation for chaperones,” she said with a laugh.
The Renfrew County 4H Exchange Club members will be in St. Paul’s, Alberta from Aug. 10 to 19. Plans for them include farm tours; a visit to a Ukranian Village, visiting the Aboriginal museum, a trip to the West Edmonton Mall, participating in a Rock the Block Party (which will be their community service) and a visit to Jasper Park.
