Yellowknife (Aug 15/03) - There was no sod in sight, so Catholic school board members turned over a load of dirt instead on Tuesday.

Kern Von Hagen, Superintendent of Yellowknife Catholic Schools, grabbed a shovel with board chair Larry Purcka and facilities chair Mary Vane to announce the construction of The Career and Technical Centre (CTC).

Mayor Gordon Van Tighem joined the crowd, along with representatives from the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, DeBeers Canada and others.

Clark Builders won the tender earlier this summer, and are busy laying the foundation for the $1.8 million project, located across from St. Patrick high school.

The CTC will introduce trades training to Catholic school students and offer training to community members and other organizations as well.

The CTC provides a need for vocational training in the North, according to Von Hagen.

"Help us celebrate in a small way, the realization of a dream," said Von Hagen, calling the centre the fruition of dreams and relationships.

The project is slated for completion by January, but with work ahead of schedule the centre may be finished as early as December.