Wake the Giant Amazing Race participants - (CJ Goater/Acadia Broadcasting)

Wake the Giant is underway in Thunder Bay.

The three-day event is an orientation for incoming students attending Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School (DFC) from 24 remote First Nation communities, who travel to Thunder Bay for school.

“Yeah, so it’s a huge leap, right?” explained DFC Transition Coordinator Matthew Tilbury. “Some of these communities are very small, fly-in only.”

“For some of them, it’s their first time living in a bigger city, so we just want to make sure that they’re safe, they’re supported, and they feel like this is their home away from home while they’re pursuing their education.”

The Amazing Race took place on Thursday ahead of the DFC Experience on Friday, and Wake the Giant Music Festival on Saturday.

“We have all of our DFC students travelling throughout Thunder Bay learning the city, learning how to utilize the transit system in a safe, supervised environment with the staff,” explained Tilbury.

“They get to meet their fellow students, and they get to visit places around town that we want them to know about.”

The student population at the school is roughly 150.

The event is a full-day initiative that saw students making stops at the Youth Wellness Hub on Roland Street, the Nishnawbe Education Council, Cinema 5 Skatepark, Roots Community Food Centre, Intercity Shopping Centre and Marina Park.

At Marina Park, YES Employment, CAA, TbayTel, and BMO were set up to provide information to the new students.