Ed. note: Miriam Moore, a 17-year-old student at Vanier Catholic Secondary School, wrote the following essay.

For her efforts, she got to go mushing Thursday with Liberal MP Justin Trudeau. (See coverage of visit, p. 4.)

What we know the North to be is how the rest of the world pictures Canada – a beautiful, vast land of cold, snowy winters, plentiful resources, and untouched wilderness.

It's a place that gives us the promise and challenge of the frontier, of being able to live off the land and to fend for ourselves.

Its challenges give us who live in the North an awareness of the power of nature and so a modesty that others in the world recognize as Canadian.

We are isolated in the North, and so community and working together are essential. We have to get along with our neighbours; there is no one else, and so the ability to share and compromise and respect other cultures is valued. Those are important characteristics recognized as Canadian as well.

When you are abroad, travelling around this world of ours, and you tell people that you are from Canada, their immediate reaction is, "Brrr.”

They see Canada as a chilly and northern place. Many may have heard of the big cities of Vancouver, Montreal, and Toronto, but when they picture Canada, they picture the North.

Our North is Canada. Just walking around our northern communities, you can witness firsthand many examples of true Canadian spirit.

From the many First Nations governments which work together with our municipal and territorial governments, to community music events, where talented people come together to create something beautiful, to people gathered around a campfire or dog mushing, cross-country skiing or snowshoeing, the

North shows Canadian values.

Up here we see peaceful, law-abiding people who are free and happy, and who respect those around us and the land we live on – true Canadians.

The North is a place where individuals still make a difference. It's a big place, and people who dream and live big can still be a part of making their world a better place!

I believe our Canadian North perfectly defines Canada. Just take a look – you'll see strong and true Canadian pride.

By Miriam Moore