Drug awareness message earns student trip to Edmonton
Derek Neary
Northern News Services
Fort Simpson (Feb 02/01) - Skyler Tanche spent three days working on a poster that earned him a three-day trip to Edmonton and a seat at an Oilers hockey game.
Tanche's submission to the RCMP's On-side drug awareness program featured athletes standing on a podium with medals around their necks. It read, "Yes to Life, No to Drugs." His artwork was judged as the best in the region in December. It went on to win the top territorial prize in Yellowknife and thereby earned him and Const. McKinnon the trip.
McKinnon said the Olympic theme with the Canadian flag, exemplifying athletes striving for success, was what made Tanche's poster stand out.
Tanche and Const. Ken McKinnon of the Fort Simpson flew to Edmonton on Jan. 13, where they ate in restaurants and shopped.
"I got a badminton racquet and (Game Boy) games for my brother (Steven) and my sister (Cheyenne)," Skyler said.
They made a requisite stop at the West Edmonton Mall, which Skyler described as "really big." He spent much of the day pitting himself against the latest video games on the market.
It was Skyler's first time in the big city and he was in awe of its enormity.
"I think (Fort Simpson) is not even a quarter of Edmonton," he said.
When they arrived at the Oilers game on Monday evening, they were two of 15,300 spectators to take in the action. McKinnon tried to put it in perspective by explaining to Tanche that the people in three rows of the Skyreach Centre arena would practically be equivalent to the population of Fort Simpson.
From row 36, behind one of the nets, they watched the Oilers skate to a 2-2 tie with the San Jose Sharks.
"I thought it was exciting to be there. The best part of the trip was going to the game," McKinnon said.
Tanche said when Edmonton scored, the fans raised the roof.
"Yep, it was really loud," he said. He was not an Oilers' fan prior to the game, but he'll be more inclined to cheer for the Oilers now.
