On March 26, 2025, a group of Inuit girls from Rankin Inlet travelled to the LCI Sports Dome in Etobicoke to take part in a soccer clinic hosted by Toronto High Park FC, in partnership with LCI Sports and Indigenous Sport and Wellness Ontario (ISWO) and Experiences Canada. The Experiences Canada Youth Exchange Program, a national initiative with an 89-year legacy, allows leaders across Canada to organize exchange trips for youth aged 12–17. Through its northern exchange program, the charity connects communities from northern and southern Canada, fostering cultural understanding and shared experiences among young participants.
The clinic brought together youth from vastly different regions—the Arctic and the Greater Toronto Area—creating a space where soccer became a shared language. Coaches from THPFC generously volunteered their time, while Indigenous youth from Inuit communities and Ontario, along with other local youth from the Mimico area, also participated.
“The energy in the room was so positive. Everyone participated. It was effortless,” said Christina Mitchison, VP of Community at Toronto High Park FC, who helped organize the event.
Lee Barter has participated in Experiences Canada’s Youth Exchange Program since 2017, bringing youth together from Ontario to the North through hockey-focused cultural exchanges. Last year, soccer was added to the programming, offering a more accessible and inclusive sport for communities with limited infrastructure.
This accessibility is key. While hockey remains a beloved sport in Canada, it comes with high costs and equipment needs. Soccer, on the other hand, requires only a ball and open space, making it ideal for remote communities.
“Hockey is great, but it’s expensive and not everyone knows how to skate,” Christina noted. “With soccer, all you need is a ball. It breaks down barriers.”
Why It Matters
According to a 2021 report by the National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health, Indigenous youth in northern communities face significant barriers to sport participation, including lack of facilities, equipment, transportation and trained coaches. These barriers contribute to lower physical activity levels and higher rates of chronic disease and mental health challenges compared to the general population.
Programs like Experiences Canada’s Youth Exchange Program aim to change that—not just by offering sport, but by fostering connection, confidence and cultural exchange.
“You saw friendships strengthen over a week’s time,” Mitchison recalled. “The connection our coaches made with these new girls on the field was immediate.”
Looking ahead, the goal is to establish sister club relationships between THPFC and northern Ontario communities like Sandy Lake First Nation located in the west part of Northern Ontario. These partnerships would allow for resource sharing including repurposed uniforms and equipment and help build sustainable soccer programming in regions that currently lack access.
As Canada marks Truth and Reconciliation Day, initiatives like Experiences Canada’s Youth Exchange Program serve as a reminder of the power of sport to unite communities, foster healing, and create opportunities for youth to thrive.
This type of program helps youth understand the link between where we came from and where we’re going, it enhances appreciation of diversity and the shared Canadian experience.
Christina, who is Indigenous Polynesian but not Indigenous to these lands, reflected on the importance of recognition and inclusion—both nationally and within local communities. She emphasized the need for meaningful support for youth, highlighting how a country and its communities must work together to create spaces where all young people feel seen, valued, and empowered.
“This type of program helps youth understand the link between where we came from and where we’re going,” she said. “It enhances appreciation of diversity and the shared Canadian experience.”
As the Experiences Canada’s Youth Exchange Program looks ahead to 2026 and beyond, Christina is working closely with the organization to help expand its soccer-focused initiatives. While she is not the program’s founder, her involvement reflects a deep commitment to building bridges between northern and southern communities through sport. She hopes to see deeper collaboration between grassroots clubs, Indigenous communities, and provincial sport organizations like Ontario Soccer especially in the form of funding, equipment and access to knowledge.
“Ontario Soccer is a powerhouse,” she said. “What these programs need is support and just being spotlighted like this makes a difference.”
Her vision is clear: to create lasting partnerships that empower youth in northern and underserved communities to participate in organized soccer, build confidence, and feel a sense of belonging. On this Truth and Reconciliation Day, the Experiences Canada’s Youth Exchange Program stands as a powerful example of how sport can be used not only to play, but to heal, connect, and create a more inclusive future for all.
Tag(s): News