Bridge Lake resident Harry Bishop recently seized the opportunity to give eight young people from around the globe the pleasure of discovering snowmobiling, ice fishing and other Cariboo activities.
It all took place on frozen Sheridan Lake, which was another first for these travellers – all of whom are currently working as ski instructors during their time in Canada.
Bishop drives the staff bus for Hemlock Valley Ski Resort, located between Mission and Agassiz, and then returns home to Interlakes between job assignments and during the off-season.
Bishop notes he always gets to know the seasonal ski instructors quite well when ferrying them up and down the mountain between their temporary residences and the ski hill.
"I just thought, 'Gee, it would be nice if you guys could come up and see a different part of the world and do a little snowmobiling and ice fishing', because never in their life would they do that in Australia or Scotland or England."
The group of eight visitors, aged 18-26, travelled to the South Cariboo with him and settled into cabins at Loon Bay Resort on Sheridan Lake on April 1-3, Bishop explains.
He says they all went out onto the lake every day to enjoy a variety of authentic Cariboo-style winter activities.
"They were just having a blast out there. Then I build a little sled with skis and a tote box, and they were pulling that behind the snowmobile. It was so nice out; they were in T-shirts and shorts."
The young people posed for goofy pictures clowning around on the ice in between activities, Bishop says.
He adds it was a delight to watch their faces light up and hear their laughter ring across the snow and ice.
"They had never walked on a frozen lake in their life. They also have a ton of pictures ... they'd all jump up in the air and get a picture airborne."
Everyone in the group wants to stay on and work in British Columbia when their stint at the Hemlock Valley is done, and some have already secured jobs on the Sunshine Coast, Bishop says.
"They were just so absolutely joyous at what is happening in their life right now that. Some of them had conference calls [April 2] about job possibilities as they leave the hill."
He notes a terrific time was had by all in the group.