Off we go to Inuvik. We had left Kimmirut before the end of the school year. My paternal grandfather passed away and we came south to support my grandmother and to go to his funeral.

As we were making another big move and we had extra time, My parents decided that another epic adventure was in store. We bought a car!!! Our new town was accessible by road – how exciting!

We drove to Southern California from Ontario to visit some of my mom’s relatives. We then drove from southern California to Inuvik, Northwest Territories.

Our time in Inuvik was unfortunately very brief. My poor mother had a nervous breakdown – mainly due to the fact that since we were now above the arctic circle we were living in almost 24 hour darkness, and my dad quickly searched for another job to save my mom’s life.

So we moved to our new home in Fort Smith, just above the northern border of Alberta. Our car and belongings had to be sent later on and we had no place to live so we had to stay in a hotel for about a month. Thankfully, Fort Smith was a big city to us (2500 people!) and there were the amenities to make it possible!

My mom was a lot happier now – we were living in an actual town and she had lots to do, we had trees and roads and there were lots and lots of ways for them to be involved. When spring came and we went exploring, I remember her telling everyone that it was like the garden of Eden it was so beautiful – and the the bugs hit!

Our house when we finally got it!

We lived in Fort Smith while I was in grades 6-10. Although a very small town by “normal” standards, it was a big town to us!

I became a teenager during our time there and turned into a typical teen girl. I was mean to my mom & resented living in a small town where everyone knew my business & I thought I was missing out because we didn’t have any malls or shopping centres, once again, I am so thankful now!

Fort Smith is an absolute treasure trove of nature. The Slave river was in our backyard with it’s world renowned rapids and pelican nesting grounds,  Wood Buffalo National Park was just down the road, and we had the woods to run away into and spend our time.

My great love of cross country skiing comes from our time here. To this day it is one of my favourite ways to be in nature. There are very few things as good for my soul as being in the woods in a fresh snowfall. The quiet and the beauty of it are indescribable.

By the time I was about to enter grade 11, I was desperate to leave the small town life and so I ventured off into another adventure – this time of my own, I was an exchange student in Finland for my grade 11 year.

Again, one of the best things that has ever happened. I had initially been approved to go to Sri Lanka, but a civil war erupted and so the organization sent me to Finland. I’d really been looking forward to a year living in the heat and sun but it was not to be!

I was once again thrown into a totally different world. One where I didn’t speak the language and was unprepared for the completely different way of life.

When I returned to Fort Smith after my year abroad, it was moving time again. My mom’s mental health was suffering again, and she desperately wanted to return home to be closer to her family and her aging parents.

So, we moved to London, Ontario and I’ve been here ever since.