NNSL (Mar 20/98) - Sunday was a milestone day for 15 northern children who were flown to Edmonton to see the Shrine Circus.

The youngsters, all under the age of 12 and each accompanied by an adult, were randomly-selected participants in a coloring contest sponsored by NWT Air, Subway and xxxYellowknifer.

"They had a blast," said Roberta Mark, marketing manager for NWT Air, who acted as a chaperon.

For Mark the fun began a week prior to leaving when she made the calls to inform the winners of their fortune. The reactions ranged from stunned silence to screams of excitement.

The flight was scheduled to leave Sunday at 9:10 a.m., and when Mark arrived at 7:30 a.m. there were already kids waiting.

"Their parents said they had been counting the sleeps ever since they signed the (application) form," Mark said.

She and co-worker Dawn Enns dressed as clowns for the occasion and allowed the children to apply the make-up. Their attire led to a little mixup at the show. A circus employee approached Mark in the stands of the Northlands Coliseum and told her she had better get to work.

The head clown was summoned and Mark explained the situation to him. It turned out he acted as an emcee and he later acknowledged the Yellowknife group during the show.

"After, we got our pictures taken with all the circus clowns," Mark said. "So it was a great day. I think a lot of the kids (including a boy from Cambridge Bay) had never had the opportunity to see the circus."

Although there were a number of highlights, one event in particular was a real hit.

"The elephant ride was great. I think just about everyone did an elephant ride," Mark recalled. "I think some of those adults had just as much fun as the kids."

Afterwards, the crew the visited the West Edmonton Mall. They returned to Yellowknife at the end of the day with a jet full of exhausted youngsters.