Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Aug 29/01) - Twelve adolescent girls raced down 45th Street's winding hill on Friday in soap boxes they made themselves.

The young women spent the week leading up to the race making the carts at a Skills Canada camp aimed at introducing girls to trades and technology. The camp, run out of Sir John Franklin high school's woodshop, cost the girls just $25 each.

Brittany Walsh turns the corner and heads towards the finish line. - Jennifer McPhee/NNSL photo

"The hardest part was putting on the wheels," said Grade 8 student Emma Ward, explaining how she cut pieces out with a jigsaw and skillsaw and measured them onto a big piece of plywood. They she smoothed the edges with a router, drilled the pieces together and painted them.

Instructor Les Cameron said the girls had no prior experience with saws or routers and were a little nervous at first.

"Things changed when I told them we could fix mistakes," he said. "All of a sudden they were independent workers. They could build a go-cart by themselves now."

"It was wonderful to see the girls building like this," said Mieke Cameron, principal of Sir John Franklin high school.

"They were so motivated, they didn't even want to take breaks."

At least 30 people turned up to watch the girls whiz down the hill in their carts which had watermelons, peeled bananas and stars painted on them.

Among them was the mayor's wife Carol Van Tighem.

"I think women should learn every physical skill they can," said the avid target shooter.

"Because the dimensions of a women's life are increased with every skill she learns."

Power screwdrivers were awarded to the top three winners, Margot Cooper, Karly Oliver and Sarah Von Hagen.