Age: 17
Sponsor: Parks Canada
School: Duke of Marlborough School
City: Churchill, MB
Biography:


My name is Dylan Burton and it was a surprise to me when my counselor told me I was chosen as the Churchill Ambassador to this leadership camp.

I was born in Thompson, Manitoba, however I moved to Churchill in 1994. You may wonder why I relocated to Churchill, Manitoba of all places in the world. Well my mother, Sheila McGillivary is a true Churchillian, she was born and raised in Churchill. Therefore Churchill is my home.

Growing up in Churchill may seem like a unique opportunity to everyone that comes to visit, but it is very much similar to growing up in any small town. There are a few minor exceptions; our wildlife is exceptional! Not may people can say that they are bussed to school because there are polar bears in the streets. Halloween is another example of what makes Churchill exceptional, the volunteer fire department, Manitoba Conservation and the RCMP patrol the streets looking for polar bears, while children go door to door for candy.

I have had a great many opportunities living in Churchill. I am an active member of Canadian Junior Rangers, which has given me opportunities to travel to parts of BC and Aberta and many diffrent towns in manitoba. I also had opportunities to go to various sporting competitions in Leaf Rapids and Nelson House. I also have learned how to hunt from my uncle. There are lots of things to do in Churchill, you can go quadding, snowmobiling, hunting and you could go for a bonfire. There is plenty to do.

My fathers family is from Newfoundland and I've had opportunity to travel to and experience Newfoundland as well. I have been there a few times during the summer I think it is a nice place to go after working all summer.

The questions was posed to us, "Why do we care about polar bears and conservation?" Polar Bears are important to Churchill and to me because they provide our community with the opportunity to call itself "Polar Bear Capital of the World". The polar bears bring a lot of tourists from all around the world to Churchill which provides a lot to the in economy of Churchill.

A lot of emphasis is always put on Polar Bears, but I want to remind everyone that Polar Bears are not the only thing that makes Churchill unique. Did you know that there are 250 plus different species of flowers here? There are around 200 different species of birds. And we haven't touched on the beluga whales, grey whale, narwhale and killer whales that frequent here.

Also Churchillians are also unique, people here are very friendly, willing to brag about our small town. And how nice it is.