A four-year effort by Karin Tigert has culminated in the farthest student exchange she has ever coordinated, stretching from coast to coast.
"It has always been my vision to have an exchange that included students from the coast of the Pacific and the coast of the Atlantic," said Tigert.
Her vision became reality this week as 20 high school students from Prince Edward Island came to Sechelt to see the sights and compare the culture.
Jessica Gillis, a 17-year-old PEI student, said she is amazed at the scenery. "The mountains are just gorgeous. We don't have anything like this at home," she said.
Fellow PEI student Mark Generoux was equally impressed with the weather. "You guys have the most enjoyable weather. When we left home there was freezing rain and snow," he said.
The group of students arrived in Vancouver April 17 and toured Victoria before coming to the Sunshine Coast. Once here they toured the Sechelt Indian Band longhouse where they were taught to weave bracelets, saw the Skookumchuck rapids while on a boat ride, walked through Howe Sound Pulp and Paper and saw operations at Target Marine Hatchery.
"It's been really great. The people here are so friendly," said Gillis.
Generoux said the small-town-feel is similar to back home and that it's interesting how similar people are in both areas.
Tigert said her music students will be venturing to PEI on May 7 where they will stay with billets and tour the local attractions for 10 days. "I think it will be really neat for our students to compare environments and to see how alike we are even though we are so far apart," she added.
