REPULSE BAY - An interest in the law led two students from Tusarvik school in Repulse Bay to the nation's capital earlier this month.

Lee Anne Tungilik of Tusarvik school in Repulse Bay flashes the victory sign as she and Jolene Angontingoar leave to participate in the Encounters with Canada program earlier this month in Ottawa, Ont. - photo courtesy of Leonie Aissaoui

Grade 11 student Jolene Angontingoar, 16, and Grade 10 student Lee Anne Tungilik, 15, travelled to Ottawa to take part in the Encounters with Canada program at the Terry Fox Canadian Youth Centre.

An average of 138 high school students, aged 14 to 17, attend each week-long program on Canadian studies.

The program is held at various times throughout the year, and brings young Canadians of different backgrounds together for the opportunity to learn about one another, discover their country together and gain a better understanding of Canadian institutions.

The first part of the program focuses on Canadian institutions and includes a guided tour of the capital area, as well as visits to the Supreme Court, House of Commons and Senate.

The second part of the week is organized around one of the program's 12 subthemes, including law.

Tungilik said taking part in the program is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity she'd recommend to any Kivalliq student.

She said the program is a great opportunity to meet and share opinions with youth from across the country, while also having a lot of fun learning about your selected area of interest.

"We got interested in the law when our teacher, Barry Peterson, began teaching a course on it this semester," said Tungilik.

"He asked if we'd be interested in taking the program in Ottawa and that's how we ended up there."

Angontingoar said everything she learned about the law during the program was new to her.

She said she left with a greater appreciation for the work lawyers do, especially defence lawyers.

"I had a lot of fun learning about the law in Ottawa and meeting lots of new friends," said Angontingoar.

"I could see myself as a future lawyer, even though I know it's hard to do," said Angontingoar.

"Even if I knew the person I was defending was probably guilty, I could still do my best to defend them."