Encounters with Canada
Encounters With Canada (EWC) is a youth program operated by the Canadian Unity Council in cooperation with numerous Canadian government departments. EWC was founded in 1982.
The Program
Taking place throughout most of each year, participants aged 14-17 from high schools throughout Canada travel to Ottawa, Ontario (Canada's capital city) and live in the Terry Fox Canadian Youth Centre.
Students are given a choice of the following sub-themed weeks:
- Arts and Culture
- Canada Remembers
- Democracy and Youth
- Experience Canada
- First Responders
- International Relations
- Journalism and Communications
- Law and Our Justice System
- Medicine and Health
- Science and Ecology
- Science and Technology
- Sports and Fitness
- Vimy: Canada's Coming of Age
Despite these variations, the main theme of the program is unifying Canadians and cultures within Canada and discussing Canada's identity.
In addition to activities related to their week's theme, participants tour and visit Canadian political institutions such as the Parliament of Canada (including the Canadian House of Commons the Senate of Canada) and the Supreme Court of Canada. Some weeks include visits to cultural institutions such as the National Gallery of Canada and the Museum of Civilization.