Charlotte Verriere won the lottery.

Literally.

Born in Brittany, France, she grew up in a life devoid of snow and sled dogs. But a few years ago, she got word of a working holiday visa program where she could travel and work in Canada.

She put her name in the pool and several months later got the call. She was going to Canada.

SA国际影视传媒淵ou apply and put in your profile,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭hen the Canadian government immigration selects you. You can work or travel as much as you want for two years.

SA国际影视传媒淪o I came to Inuvik in January 2018 and spent the summer here, came back and spent the summer of 2019 as well.SA国际影视传媒�

Verriere started her journey here in Inuvik. Since then, she has travelled and worked her way around the country.

But her first travels found her back here with the huskies of Inuvik.

Initially starting out as a volunteer, Varriere eventually earned herself a job with Arctic Chalet caring for the dogs. She hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 looked back since.

SA国际影视传媒淚 loved it, so I just kept coming back here,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 never had a dog or anything. I had a whole bunch of places in Canada I wanted to see and do. Canada for me was things like the Northern Lights, huskies and dog sledding.

SA国际影视传媒淚 found that in the North. I donSA国际影视传媒檛 have winter where I live, I donSA国际影视传媒檛 have snow. So that was a dream for me. I found everything I wanted up here.SA国际影视传媒�

InuvikSA国际影视传媒檚 French-speaking community ebbs and flows, so while she doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 get a lot of opportunities to practice her mother tongue, Verriere said she loves the community and people.

Largely she said she gets to practice with clients SA国际影视传媒� though she noted she speaks a bit of Spanish with clients as well. She noted most of the French speakers she knows in the North live in Yellowknife.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think for a French person who wanted to come up here to improve their English, for sure theySA国际影视传媒檒l improve it,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Since starting her contract with Arctic Chalet, Verriere has moved up in the company somewhat.

Now handling clients and booking, she still gets to spend time with the dogs that made he stay put.

SA国际影视传媒淚 train the dogs, feed the dogs, take care of them,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭he more ISA国际影视传媒檝e stayed, the more tasks ISA国际影视传媒檝e gotten.

SA国际影视传媒淣ow ISA国际影视传媒檓 more of an administrative assistant, but I still take care of the dogs, which is the highlight of the day.

With her contract with Arctic Chalet wrapping up this September, Verriere said sheSA国际影视传媒檚 looking around for future job options, noting she loves Inuvik so much she really doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 want to leave.

SA国际影视传媒淓ven if there isnSA国际影视传媒檛 a big French community, the Inuvik community is very welcoming,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淎s a French speaker, I donSA国际影视传媒檛 feel by myself or anything. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 so much going on for people to gather together that I donSA国际影视传媒檛 feel alone at all.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚 would love to stay in Inuvik. I love this community.SA国际影视传媒�