Ottawa (Mar 22/04) - From those "bad crowds" you always hear about, to broken homes, there are many factors that can put youth at risk.

For children in Iqaluit who have known hardship and have few opportunities to travel or meet their role models, a new program is helping enrich their lives.

The Start Right, Stay Right program was created in 1999 by the executive of Hockey North, the governing body for amateur hockey throughout Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.

Those in need get the help

The children who join the Start Right, Stay Right program in Iqaluit are often identified by teachers at area schools who believe in the program and think it would help.

The kids play hockey once a week, which helps them develop team work skills and self esteem, but there is more to the program than enhancing their love of sports. Last weekend, the program made a dream come true for four Iqaluit young people.

Stephanie Moynan, 9, Steven Ishulutak, 10, Joseph Ipeelie, 9, and Paul Caza, 11, got to go to Ottawa to watch Jordin Tootoo and the Nashville Predators play the Senators.

"It was awesome," said Moynan. "It's really cool."

The trip was sponsored by Canadian North, NorTerra Inc., and Nunasi Corporation, who worked in partnership with Hockey North, Iqaluit Amateur Hockey, and the RCMP to make these young children's dream a reality.

Canadian North made 18 seats available on a flight from Iqaluit to Ottawa on March 5 for the young people and their chaperons.

"We had a number of people help us choose who to bring down," said Christy Brewster, Northern Community Relations advisor with Air NorTerra Inc. "We wanted to bring kids down to the game. And one of the groups that was identified was the Start Right, Stay Right program."

Inuk role model

Brewster considers it an "awesome" program, one that supports the positive development of Inuit youth in the North.

"We're providing an opportunity to see Jordin play," said Brewster. "These kids, many of them, have had a tough time in life. They've been dealt a difficult hand," said Brewster. "They can use Jordin as an example of someone, an Inuk, who has succeeded in life."

Tootoo's schedule on Saturday night prevented him from meeting the four lucky youth in person. But the hockey player knew they were out there, cheering him on.

"Jordin is so proud the kids are here," Brewster said. "He just loves this."

With an expansive view of the game from the posh Canadian North suite, Moynan, Ipeelie, Ishulutak and Caza ate snacks off fancy platters, took pictures with disposable cameras and waved Nunavut flags.

All of them were wearing their caps autographed by Tootoo especially for them.

It was the first time Moynan and Caza had ever been south in their lives. Moynan said she liked seeing all the trees and going to McDonald's.

During the game, the newly elected Premier of Nunavut, Paul Okalik stopped by to visit.

Charlie Lyall, president of the Kitikmeot Corporation, also paid a visit to the suite during the game, as did Jose Kusugak, president of Inuit Tapirisat of Canada.

Although the Predators lost the game 4-2, the Nunavut flags waved and Tootoo signs flashed all around the arena, packed with an impressive 18,500 people.

When it was time to leave, Moynan eyed her pink Barbie watch with its flowery wrist band.

"I don't want to go," she said.