Second-year Advertising student Erinn Baptiste (pictured) joined more than 300 Aboriginal dancers in the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Olympics. She left Barrie on Jan. 30 and returned Feb. 14 with a lifetime of memories.

During her two-week stay, Baptiste lodged at the Evans Lake Forest Education Centre in Squamish, B.C., where she shared a cabin with 10 other dancers. She earned a spot on the dance troupe after filling out an online application outlining her extracurricular activities and experience in Aboriginal dance.

“I told them about my involvement in sports in school, my secondary school accomplishments, awards I have received and how I was chosen by my community to carry the Olympic torch in my hometown,” says Baptiste.

The 20-year-old carried the Olympic torch in Golden Lake, which is located just outside Ottawa, on Dec. 13.

The dance troupe, which included residents from all the provinces and territories, danced for close to two hours at the Feb. 12 opening ceremonies. In addition to dancing, Baptiste swapped greetings with members of the high-energy Canadian and U.S. Olympic teams as they filed into the stadium.

She also had the opportunity to meet Michaelle Jean, Governor General of Canada, and other high-ranking officials, including a leader of the Four Host First Nations.

Baptiste cheered on the Canadian women’s hockey team at BC Place (the men’s and women’s hockey venue) in its 18-0 win against Slovakia. She also channelled her inner Olympic athlete, taking to the slopes to snowboard.

Her twice-daily, two-hour trip from Squamish to Vancouver afforded her breathtaking views of the mountains and the B.C. landscape. It was a postcard come to life, says Baptiste.

“It was such a fantastic experience all around,” she says. “Taking part in the Olympics on Canadian soil was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, really.”