The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
His English isn't perfect, but Stan Dreno has few problems communicating how much Flin Flon has meant to him. The 18-year-old French exchange student _ that's France, not Quebec _ recently returned home after an eventful year in this close-knit mining town. 'I've had a wonderful year and if I could thank every single person I've met here, because I really mean it,' said Dreno. 'This year make me be someone else, someone better.' Polite with an infectious smile, Dreno arrived in Flin Flon in the summer of 2012 as part of the Rotary Exchange program. By day he was a student at Hapnot Collegiate, where he studied hard, met new friends and continued to improve his already-respectable English skills. His experience at Hapnot was extremely positive and marked the most pleasant surprise of his time in Flin Flon. 'Here, I took way more pleasure to go at Hapnot every day,' Dreno said. 'In France (school) is fairly strict. There is no relation between teachers and students, and I think we really miss that.' At night and on the weekends, Dreno took in all that the Flin Flon region has to offer, from fishing and snowmobiling to the rich arts and culture scene. He even got to be a stagehand for the Flin Flon Community Choir's blockbuster production of Chicago, whose cast was eternally grateful for his efforts. One of his more memorable days came just last month when he strutted down Main Street in four-inch high heels. Dreno, along with nearly 20 other men, took part in the Walk A Mile In Her Shoes campaign to raise awareness of domestic violence. Long before touching down in Flin Flon, Dreno was no stranger to Rotary Exchange, as his grandfather volunteered as a billet with the acclaimed program. Dreno long looked forward to the chance to participate himself, and Canada was always his preferred destination. 'Canada was my country since I'm a kid. I don't know why, I just love this country,' he said. Back home in France, Dreno will enjoy the rest of the summer holidays before returning to high school this fall. Though he earned an honourary diploma from Hapnot, he doesn't yet have the real thing from his home country. After high school, Dreno plans to attend university and then... well, like a lot of people his age, he's not quite sure what will come next. At some point, however, Dreno knows he will return to Flin Flon for a visit. 'In Flin Flon there is the spirit of community that I really like,' he said.
