Lisa Scott
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (June 10/05) - The medal haul at this year's national Skills Canada competition says it all - the trades and technology talent in the North is blossoming.

This year's 24-member team NWT/Nunavut brought home eight medals from the annual competition in Edmonton, the most in the team's six-year history.

Guy Barnable, executive director for Skills Canada in Yellowknife, calls this year's team "hired guns," referring to those who have been involved in Skills Clubs for a few years and others who have almost completed apprenticeships.

"Most of them are far along in their education," he says.

Mark Roberts, with the Buffalo School of Aviation in Yellowknife, competed for the first time nationally in aircraft maintenance.

His bronze left him wide-eyed and anticipating next year's competition.

"I was in shock. I didn't expect to win a medal," he says.

High school student Aaron Morrison's impeccable table manners and serving experience won him gold in restaurant service.

He's planning a career in the hospitality industry in management.

Other medal winners include Lauren Solski of Iqaluit with a gold in prepared speech, R.J. Evans of Fort Smith with silver in heavy duty mechanic, Mandy Lyons of Yellowknife with silver in prepared speech, Ashley Tufts of Iqaluit with silver in restaurant service, Matt Fraser of Yellowknife with bronze in electrical wiring and Morgan Barrett and Miranda Booth of Yellowknife with a bronze in TV/Video production.

The Skills Canada program is wrapped up for the year, ending on a high note with the national results, and Chris Fournier's gold medal win at the recent international skills competition in Helsinki.

All this good news leaves Barnable with just one problem.

"We've got big expectations now for next year," he says.