YELLOWKNIFE - The Junior Canadian Rangers came into operation in 1997.

Ten years later 35 communities in the NWT boast JCR groups with ten more communities interested in getting the program.

Author and former Yellowknifer Anita Daher poses with the founder of the Junior Canadian Rangers, Warrant Officer Chuck Bachmanek. - Jessica Klinkenberg/NNSL photo

The JCR is also the inspiration for Anita Daher's newest young-adult novel, Racing for Diamonds.

"I thought the JCR would be a great topic for an adventure story," Daher said.

Daher read parts of her story to Grade 6 students from William McDonald middle school on Friday afternoon. On hand were Rangers and Junior Canadian Rangers to hear the story.

Sgt. Trevor Bonnetrouge and JCR Audrey Canadian came all the way from Fort Resolution to hear Daher speak, and met with some of the students.

"When they hear what we do they'll want to join," Canadian said following the reading.

Bonnetrouge added that being a junior ranger is fun.

The students as well were interested in the story, lamenting the fact that there wasn't a JCR group in Yellowknife.

Despite that the book was still a hit with the students.

"I think it was really great. She gave us a lot of information," Nathan Jewer said.

At 11-years-old Jewer knows what he likes to read.

"It was really descriptive, but not too much. Some books make you go 'get to the point already', but not this one."

Classmate Seamus Daly said he was looking forward to reading the book.

"It's very interesting," Dustin Shupe said.

Most of the students hadn't had a chance to read the book yet, but many left the library clutching a new and signed copy of Daher's book.

"I thought it was pretty cool. I think that if I get a chance I might read it," Katrina Leonardis said.

One person that did read the book was Captain Conrad Schubert with the First Canadian Rangers patrol group.

"I thought it was very accurate. It was a good depiction of a Northern community."

As a Ranger, Schubert said that it was good to see the JCR as the setting for a story.

"This is the very first book written about the JCR. It's tremendously exciting."

On hand for Daher's reading was also the man who created the JCR program.

Warrant Officer Chuck Bachmanek said that it was nice to see the JCR get the attention.

"Of course, any sort of exposure that we get would help."