Dog sledding in Lapland for youth

Ami Jarvis (left) and Jen Stewart, realtors at Engel & Völkers in the Glebe, will embark on a gruelling dogsled trek in Lapland, Sweden to raise money for the Youth Services Bureau.

Photo: Baz Ghannoum

By Marie Briscoe

Two adventurous women who in their everyday life are realtors working out of an office in the Glebe are about to embark on an arduous dog sledding trip through the Swedish Lapland in support of youth mental health.

Jen Stewart and Ami Jarvis from Engel & Völkers Office Central on Bank Street will leave on March 18 to travel to the city of Kiruna, Sweden, 145 km north of the Arctic Circle. From there, they will travel 180 km by dog sled through the beautiful forests of the Swedish Lapland. Another realtor from their office, Michael McWilliams, will join them.

The goal of the trip is to raise at least $10,000 for the Ottawa Youth Services Bureau (YSB). The trip itself is self-funded, and 100 per cent of all money raised will go to the YSB.

Both ladies are experienced backpackers and campers but have never encountered such extreme conditions. Stewart did two previous charity treks at the last company she worked for: one in Iceland’s southern highlands in 2017, the other through the deserts of Morocco. She found these to be such wonderful and life-changing experiences that she wanted to continue both the adventures and the fundraising. Engel & Völkers is already involved with the YSB and donates a portion of every commission to it.

The trip will start with a training day to learn about handling and caring for the dogs and sled. None of the Ottawa group has any experience “mushing” dogs, and they will be on the sleds for several hours a day over a seven-day period.

“I am nervous about the unknown of what is required to physically manage the sled,” said Stewart. “My previous charity challenges were also extreme, but I could rely on my legs to do what was needed. This is a little scary because I have no idea what to expect. I am not concerned about the cold temperatures because I love winter – I’m even a cold plunger!”

Stewart said there is a lot of equipment and planning needed and mental preparation. They are going to be far from their lives in Ottawa, and they need to have confidence, respect nature and work as a group to get through it.

This is not a luxurious “glamping” trip. When the challenge begins, they will be off grid, travelling through frozen Arctic terrain and sleeping in Sami teepee tents on traditional reindeer skins. They will also manage and care for the dogs and themselves without electricity, running water or toilet facilities. They will be cooking, cleaning and collecting water each day.

The trio from Canada will be part of a group of eight with others from New Zealand and the U.K. Each participant will raise funds for their preferred charity. It will be very challenging but also rewarding. There will be the opportunity to spot reindeer, elk and moose and even the northern lights.

The YSB was founded in 1960 and employs 350 staff members who work from 20 locations across the city. They focus on the key areas of mental health, housing, employment and youth justice.

Stewart said she and her colleagues recognize the need for mental health services for youth, especially with the number of homeless youth on the rise; the YSB does important work that they want to support. They’re hoping to raise awareness of the YSB among people who might want to access its services or become a volunteer or donor. It costs roughly $4,000 for one youth to be in a shelter room for a year. Their hope is to pay for three shelter rooms by raising $12,000. This is more than their stated goal for the trip, but they plan to continue fundraising after the trip.

If you are interested in donating, you can do so at:

https://ysbfoundation.akaraisin.com/ui/dogsledding4ysb/p/EVdogsleddingchallenge

Any amount, big or small, would be appreciated. Stewart also said that anyone who would like to come into their office at Bank and Third to chat about the trip is most welcome! She hopes that this is just the first of many fundraising initiatives.

Marie Briscoe is a long-time Glebe resident and graduate of Carleton University. She is retired from the public service.