Jonathon Dawe and Arthur Milnes
Northern News Services

NNSL (Nov 11/98) - There was something a little different about workplaces across Yellowknife Wednesday.

Grade 9 students from both St. Patrick high school and Sir John Franklin went off to work with parents, friends and others as part of the second annual Take Our Kids to Work Day.

"I like the chair," student Michael Sibbald said after job-shadowing Mayor Dave Lovell at city hall.

The pair went off to tour city facilities and take part in other activities which are all part of Yellowknife's top political job.

Lovell said he thought the program was an excellent one for both students and adults alike.

At Air Tindi, parent Peter Arychuk said he enjoyed showing his son, Travis, just what it is that dad does every day after leaving the house.

"It's good to have him here so he can see what keeps food on the table," Peter said. "(It's a good chance) to give him a view of what goes on (at Air Tindi). It's not just flying airplanes. A lot happens before the engine actually starts."

Travis, who plans on beginning work on earning his own private flying license next year, said he had looked forward to joining dad at work.

"I just wanted to go up flying and see what he does," he said.

Back at City Hall, Mayor Lovell's administrative assistant, Rosalie Power, had two student helpers. Shannon Graf and Stephanie Johnson both took turns answering the mayor's phone and working on the computer Wednesday morning.

They both also worked at the NWT Legislature in the afternoon.

"It's heavy," Stephanie said after trying out the mayor's impressive chain of office.

Other participating offices included: the RCMP, xxxYellowknifer, Royal Oak mine, PIDO Productions, Aurora College, Canadian Armed Forces, Ton of Fun, Stanton Hospital, Great Slave Helicopters, CBC, First Air, the NWT Supreme Court and others.

Across Canada, 400,000 students were expected to take part. It was organized nationally by the Toronto-based Learning Partnership, a non-profit organization.