Yellowknife (Apr 21/03) - Only the buzzing sound of overhead lights could be heard at the Forward Operating Location hangars in Iqaluit as more than 125 cadets between the ages of 14 and 18 from across Canada waited to take their turn shooting a target.

Andrew Pokiak, 16, of Cambridge Bay was in Iqaluit last week to participate in the 2003 National Cadet Marksmanship Championship. - Christine Kay/NNSL photo

The target's bull's-eye is about the size of a pinhead and the precision needed to hit it is impressive. It is this precision that won Jennifer Churchill of Nova Scotia the National Cadet Marksmanship Championship. Her score added up to 96 out of a possible 100.

The competition has been going on for the last 29 years. This year, for the first time, it was held in Northern Canada.

The seven participants from Nunavut (two from Iqaluit and five from Cambridge Bay) were proud to have their peers visit the territory and to show off their Northern lifestyles. They were also happy to answer any questions that might come up. Capt. Guylaine Valois from St. Hubert, Que., certainly had plenty.

"We really didn't know what to expect. They told us we would need parkas when there's grass growing all over Montreal. We're excited to learning more about the culture, it's totally new to us," she explained.

Although participating in the championship is fun, there's a serious part to it as well.

Andrew Pokiak of Cambridge Bay knows that. He is 16 years old and has been in cadets for three years now. He said he first joined the organization when he was living in a group home in Cambridge Bay. Pokiak said cadets gave him something interesting to do with his time. He even said it helped him quit smoking.

Pokiak came to the competition to get experience.

"I'm going to keep practising so that I can participate again next year," he said.

His coach, Chris Gillis, has been in cadets for the last seven years. His father was the commanding officer of the cadet core in Cambridge Bay and his brother and sister were also cadets in the past.

"It was part of the family and because it was, it was harder. They expected a lot out of me, but I liked it too. The marksmanship competition was a part of cadets and I guess that's all it took to get me hooked," he explain.

Gillis has participated in five national championships and knows the competition can be tough. He said his cadets have been training for the last four months.

"I think we did all right. We're here for the experience more than anything," said Gillis.

The championship wrapped up on April 19. Cadets used the Daisy 853C air rifle. It is not considered a firearm under the current federal gun legislation because of the slow speed the bullet travels at.

When the rifles were put away, cadets were given the chance to tour Iqaluit and its legislative assembly. They also got the opportunity to go out on the land with some Canadian Rangers.