Inuvik (Apr 28/06) - With skills ranging from welding to hairstyling, Inuvik had a strong presence in a recent competition held in Yellowknife.

The annual Skills Canada Competition had students from all over the Territories partake in a day full of events.

Martha Day, 19, of Inuvik with her hair model at the 2006 Skills Canada competition on April 20 at St. Pat's high school in Yellowknife. Day, who won a bronze medal, was one of nine Inuvik students who took part in the competition. - Jessica Gray/NNSL photo

Each student chose their skill and were judged by a panel from the skills society.

Two bronze medals and one silver medal were brought home in welding and hairdressing.

Chaperone John Lord said the welding medal won by Greg Elias was well-deserved.

"Greg only completed half of the event, and still won third place," said Lord.

Elias did not know how to arc weld, which is a technique that uses electricity to bond the metals instead of burning gas. In hairdressing, Martha Day took the bronze medal and Lesley Villeneuve won silver.

Inuvik stylist Julie Hyde teaches an introduction to cosmetology course at the high school.

She said the girls performed very well at the event and it was a wonderful experience for them.

A trio of boys entered the competition for graphic design, taking the fifth, sixth and seventh places in the event.

Fifteen-year-old Morgan Jefferd-Moore said the computer program they had to use at the competition was new to all of them.

"We were all used to working with another application, but it went well anyway," said Jefferd-Moore.

Fellow graphic designer Matthew Dyck said design has always been something he was interested in.

"It'll look wonderful on my resume, and it will help me in future employment," said Dyck.