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REPULSE BAY - A group of students at Tusarvik school were introduced to the basics of engine repair and maintenance in Repulse Bay earlier this month.

Tusarvik principal Leonie Aissaoui was looking for ways to offer additional programming at the school. Opportunity came knocking, however, when Chris Markwick, a mechanic from Hamilton, Ont., came to Repulse to visit a friend teaching at Tusarvik.

Henry Crawford and Nicholas Shimout, right, work on an all-terrain vehicle during a fiveday module on basic engine fundamentals at Tusarvik school in Repulse Bay earlier this month - photo courtesy of Leonie Aissaoui

"Since he was, basically, sitting around not doing too much during the day, he was nice enough to accept our invitation to teach a Career Technology Study (CTS) module on engine fundamentals to some of our students," said Aissaoui.

"We had to go around town and get some old motors we could use, and also get the word out to people to bring in their Hondas or snowmobiles to be fixed.

"Once people were aware of what was going on, the response from the community was very good."

Aissaoui said the five-day (25 hours) module was a tremendous hit with the five Grade 10 students who participated.

She said Grade 10 students were selected for the course because they're new to senior high and need to complete a CTS module.

"The first day was all theory but, after that, it was almost all hands-on training and the boys really loved it.

"The manager of the Northern store even brought in the company truck so they could learn the proper way to change the oil.

"They worked on a number of different vehicles and really enjoyed working with the old engines, taking everything apart and then reassembling it all again.

"These are basic engine skills these boys will be able to use in their everyday life here, so they really appreciated learning them."