Janelle Nitsiza had big plans to finish her studies online at Yukon College.

But in 2015, during her second semester of classes — working as a career counsellor, she had to make a decision: continue her studies or care for her dying grandmother, who was diagnosed with cancer.

"When we found out she had cancer it was just too late," she said. "But I didn't want her to give up ... I gave back to her completely and wholeheartedly."