INUVIK - Come Thanksgiving weekend, one Inuvik resident will be representing the NWT on the world curling stage where $56,000 in prize money will be up for grabs.

Shona Barbour's NWT/Yukon teammates Kali Dobson, Kerry Galusha, Dawn Moses and coach Fred Koe will be among 32 teams competing in the prestigious Grand Slam of Curling's Trial Appliances Classic held in Calgary from Oct. 9 to 12.

Shona Barbour, second from right, and her NWT/Yukon teammates are one of 24 Canadian women's curling teams which have qualified for the Grand Slam of Curling's Trial Appliances Classic that will be held in Calgary from Oct. 9 to 12. The team includes, from left, Kerry Galusha (skip), Dawn Moses (third), Barbour and Heather McCagg-Nystrom (fifth). Missing from the photo are coach Fred Koe and lead Kali Dobson. - photo courtesy of Kerry Galusha

"We've worked really hard for this," said Barbour. "We're all really excited because we'll be playing some of the best curlers in the world."

The team got the news on July 1.

While eight teams will arrive from outside the country to compete in the World Curling Tour event, the home team just narrowly beat out two others to qualify for the final 24th spot open to Canadian squads, which was based on a points system measuring team performances in major curling tournaments during last season.

Not only did the close friends win their fifth straight NWT championship last year, but they also made it to the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Victoria last February where they defeated Canadian and world champion Jennifer Jones and Team Canada, who will also be competing at the Trial Appliances Classic.

They were also honoured with the Team of the Year award at the annual Sport North Awards ceremony held in Yellowknife to honour the region's best athletes.

Unlike the southern competition they'll face in Calgary, where teams enjoy the opportunity of competing in bonspiels almost every weekend, members of the NWT/Yukon squad don't have the same luxury because of the cost of travelling. Three of the team's five players live in Yellowknife. Barbour and Heather McCagg-Nystrom of Fort Smith are only able to practise with their team in Yellowknife twice a month.

"Because we've made such a commitment to the team, it makes this accomplishment extra special," said Barbour.

Though the team's former lead Heather McCagg-Nystrom will remain with her teammates, she'll be the fifth player so she can devote more time to her family. She won't compete in Calgary or most of the team's competitions this season. She's been replaced by Kali Dobson who joined the team after moving to Yellowknife from Ontario this summer.

With the squad's newest addition, they're hoping to do well in the tournament but also use it as a gelling experience.

"When we get on the ice, it's what we love more than anything so we're just trying to have as much fun as we can," said Barbour.

Skip Kerry Galusha, who spent four years of her childhood living Inuvik before returning to Yellowknife, said she's thrilled with her team's latest accomplishment and she's hoping to make the region proud.

"We always feel a great sense of pride wherever we go because we are well recognized in the curling world," said Galusha. "It feels really good."

In the meantime, the team is still looking for sponsors to help pay for the season's travel expenses.