IQALUIT, Nunavut – Ten UBCO Heat men's and women's volleyball players and a coach made the multi-day trip to the Canadian arctic earlier this Spring with the goal of giving back to the volleyball community as they helped deliver a week of programming to children from across the territory.
 
In partnership with Volleyball Nunavut, and with support from the Calgary Foundation's Daryl K. Seaman Canadian Hockey Fund, Heat volleyball student-athletes Natalie Funk, Madison Gardner, Seba Manuel, Zach van Geel, Peter Labun, Jack Taylor, Kirsten Hill, Rachel Rosser, Ava Dahl and Kylan Finseth took part in an ambitious schedule that impacted hundreds of youth. The group taught physical education classes, ran volleyball clinics and practices, conducted a talent identification combine and helped organize and operate the territorial championship in what has become an annual trip for the program.
 
"My experience in Nunavut was incredibly meaningful," said Dahl, who was making her second trip to Nunavut. "It gave me the opportunity to work with and coach students while creating relationships and having fun. Overall, the past two trips to Iqaluit gave me a greater appreciation for the impact that sport can have on bringing people together and creating positive experiences for young athletes."
 
Over the course of four days, the Heat student-athletes impacted close to 1000 children from across the territory, including delivering school programming to 736 students, while the territorial championship brought in 160 participants from communities across Nunavut.
 
The athletes also greeted teams upon their arrival at the airport. For Rosser, this allowed her the opportunity to gain insight into family life up north.
 
"Assisting with the transportation of the teams from the airport to the school was really cool as we got to explore the town and chat with the families who were coming in," said Rosser. "It gave us some personal time with the athletes and we really saw how family oriented they all were coming from these small communities across Nunavut. They were incredibly kind, helping out with loading in the bags and just wanting to get to know us."
 
Kirsten Hill described the trip as a once-in-a-lifetime experience that broadened her understanding of Canada's cultural diversity.
 
"Although we all live in Canada, it's crazy how different our lives truly are," said Hill.
 
Her favourite moments came from spending time with students in the schools.
 
"Being able to have one-on-one conversations with the kids and get to know about their way of life was my favourite part," she said. "Learning about their culture, trying foods like muktuk and caribou, and seeing Inuit Games skills firsthand was incredibly interesting."
 
For Rosser, the trip allowed her to gain a new appreciation for the opportunities she was provided as an athlete growing up in the lower mainland.
 
"It gave me a real appreciation for the opportunities that I've been given from growing up in Vancouver. I was able to go to all these different camps and sporting events, including watching other universities playing all the time. Knowing that they don't have those opportunities [in Nunavut] and that the championship they competed in, they had to fundraise all year for, it provided me with some deep appreciation for my life as an athlete."
 
"I couldn't be prouder of our student-athletes and the work they are doing for the youth in Nunavut," said retiring Heat women's volleyball head coach Steve Manuel who has championed this trip from the beginning. "They were professional, interactive, hard-working and outstanding ambassadors of UBCO and the Heat program. We were in the gym on most days for 12-14 hours, coaching, teaching, reffing and the entire time I saw nothing but smiles and lots of high-fives from our Heat athletes."
 
"A huge thank you goes out to Volleyball Nunavut and Scott Schutz for all the work they do in the territory and for continuing to invite us to share in this experience," continued Manuel. "A huge thank you as well to the Calgary Foundation's Daryl K. Seaman Canadian Hockey Fund for their financial support."
 
As the final whistle blew on the Territorial Volleyball Championship at the end of the week, the legacy of the trip extended well beyond the standings. It lived in new friendships, shared experiences and a growing volleyball community united by a common passion for sport.