(Submitted photo/Gailmarie Anderson)

By Ben Tompkins

Winter Activities

International exchange students learn Canadian sport through Rotary Melfort

Feb 17, 2025 | 9:29 PM

Rotary Melfort recently welcomed international exchange students from across Canada to experience local sports.

Over an entire weekend, 10 students got to go skiing and snowboarding, snowmobiling, curling, and more.

“On Saturday we went to Wapiti and it was very interesting because not everyone had gone skiing before. Two people from Brazil, one person from Germany, and another from Belgium had never been on the slopes,” said Maddalena Gervasoni, an exchange student from Italy.

“Then, on Sunday, we played curling, which was very interesting because it’s something that I’ve never done before.”

The exchange students are all in Canada for the entirety of the school year, with the others coming from Argentina and Norway.

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As for where they are staying in Canada right now, Gervasoni is staying in Melfort, but the rest are staying in Manitoba, Northwestern Ontario, and other parts of Saskatchewan.

Gervasoni explained that it was not only cool to learn about Canadian culture and sports, but also to meet with some other Rotary students from across the world.

“I would say that it’s very interesting when we get together and try and share our culture together, both Canadian culture from the Canadian people who are with us, but with us too, between one another. It’s a very enjoyable thing, and it’s why I like to be around people who are not from my country so that I can share my culture, and then I can take something from their culture too. It’s always very nice.”

Gervasoni is happy to be in Canada and Saskatchewan as it was her first choice to visit as an international exchange student.

She told northeastNOW that although she didn’t know anything about the province beforehand it’s felt right ever since she got here.

“I wanted to go somewhere where English was the first language and I’ve heard about Ontario and BC, but Saskatchewan feels like the true Canada. It’s cold outside and there are wild animals,” Gervasoni added.

“I really like Canadians, they’re all really nice and I enjoy Melfort as a town. I feel like I’m part of the community and as much as I love my home, I don’t want to go back anytime soon because I really love it here.”

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On X @BenTompkins_8