Lucky

August 21, 2026

Emily Shen, AVC 2027, travelled to Port Hope Simpson as one of the student participants on the Chinook Project. As part of the experience, the students craft various pieces of writing.

Lucky – this overwhelming feeling washed over me as I sat on the rocks by the water; their smooth stone surfaces were warmed by the sun’s kiss, the water was glass reflecting the beauty of the mountains, and faint laughter tumbled through the air. I sat silently, shifting between gazing at the beauty and closing my eyes, so that I could remember everything just the way it was – I could smell the embers of a bonfire, I could feel the sun embracing me.

We had just completed and packed up our remote clinic, where we served the community of Port Hope Simpson, Labrador, with their veterinary needs. As we bid farewell to our final clients and their pets, pride filled the room. Our days had been so busy and long that I realized I hadn’t even given myself me to fully understand what we accomplished in this town. During the 6 full days of clinics, we were thanked endlessly by the community – I remember the feeling of not understanding the extent of their gratitude, and feeling unworthy of their generosity. Pride can be difficult to feel in this world, but as the clinic faded away and the old museum (where we had set up the clinic) resurfaced, I felt it in almost every corner of the room. Proud that we created a space to provide care to so many animals; fold out tables balanced on milk cartons for surgery tables, the washroom re-purposed into a cat sedation room, the make-shift pharmacy area, and utilization of every surface to store supplies. It was a small space, but it was everything we needed.

It would have been easy to feel overwhelmed and displaced; this was such a difference to the veterinary teaching hospital at AVC. It was the team’s high spirits and resilience to adapt that built the clinic. I am so proud of us for the environment we created – giggles anytime we slid past each other in narrow pathways, constant words of encouragement for each other... singing, laughing, always lending a hand wherever needed. We all made the active choice to bring positivity to each day, and I think that is something to be incredibly proud of. Embraces were shared among the team as we looked around at the empty space – we did it!

This opportunity would not be possible without the invitation and the acceptance of the community. From the moment we entered the town, we were embraced in warmth and kindness. The heartbeat of the clinic was not just made up from the team; it was made stronger by the countless volunteers that were willing to do anything to ease our days, by the community members that filled the kitchen every day with food, and the youth’s curiosity to learn about how we helped animals. The days in the clinic were labour-intensive – there were times that tested our resiliency. Those times, however, are just a sliver of the memories I kept from this experience. When I reflect, I am reminded of beautiful interactions with the people of Port Hope Simpson: the light hug from a little boy who watched me examine his beagle puppy, the young girl who asked thought provoking questions on why we chose this profession, and the concern and care of members who brought me food compatible with my dietary restrictions. I can still feel the hands of the woman who held my hands in hers, on the final day of clinic. I was exhausted and fighting to get to the end, and in the chaos, she held my gaze and attention. I no longer heard the bustling clinic; I just heard her. She told me that she had never seen anything like this in her life, that she was filled with awe at our work, and that she was so thankful to us for caring not only for her pet but for all pets we helped. I remember that the tears were threatening to tumble down my cheeks as soon as she began to speak. She just held me there. She may never know how much that moment meant to me, how much I needed it, or that this moment will help me in dark days ahead – I am forever grateful and humbled.

Front (L-R): Abby N, Abby P and Emily / Back (L-R): Sam and Ryan

I gazed at the scenery once again and smiled back – a place I would never have been able to see, if not for this experience. The calm waters started to break, and as I looked back, my silly team had begun to challenge each other with skipping stones. I leapt up to join them, flinging rocks into the water, hoping they would skip across the surface, squeals of laughter escaping us when our rocks sank immediately, and hollers of joy when they skipped across the surface. I am so lucky. This experience has changed me – I am a better me because of what the people of Port Hope Simpson showed me. Your home is stunning; thank you for showing us the water, the mountains, the falls. A piece of me stays there so that I can take a piece of you with me. P.S. Sarah, Madonna, Charlie, Georgia, John, Leal, Cheri. Thank you so much for all that you did for us – words will never be enough.