Yellowknife (Apr 28/03) - Canada's future in the global marketplace echoed in the snips, clicks and bangs that filled both Yellowknife high school gyms April 24.

Kristal De Bastien of Inuvik designs a bridal hairdo during the hairdressing competition in Yellowknife. - Erin Fletcher/NNSL photo

The 109 competitors from across the NWT and Nunavut met for the fifth annual Territorial Skills Competition to prove themselves worthy of the national team. They spent the day demonstrating their skills in everything from hairdressing to computer network support to auto service and aircraft maintenance at Sir John Franklin high school and St. Patrick high school.

"You reinforce my optimism in the wonderful future we can look forward to," said Western Arctic Liberal MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew during the opening ceremonies.

"We have the greatest opportunity in the North to make something of ourselves.If you don't have the skills you won't be able to participate fully."

Every year there are more participants and more competitions, said Allyson Stroeder, executive director of the event sponsor, Skills Canada of the NWT and Nunavut.

This year there were 137 participants in both the Yellowknife and Fort Simpson competition held last week. Last year there were 91 competitors.

The restaurant service competition returned to the circuit after being discontinued last year and a new IT/PC Network Support competition was added.

"I think (this competition) raises the profile of trades and technologies," said Stroeder. "Students need to know the trade and technologies industries are a great place to be ... If we don't introduce it in the high schools and middle schools then they won't know the possibilities they have."

But she said there's always room for improvement. She said there needs to be more opportunities offered in schools and to the smaller Northern communities who have no representation at the competition.

"I think (teachers) are doing the best job they can with the funds they have," she said. "Kids need equipment to do the job well."

Competitors are 15 and older and are either students or registered apprentices.

The top competitors will represent the two territories at the National Skills Competition in Waterloo, Ont., May 29 to June 1.