Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Oct 05/01) - Students at Sir Alexander Mackenzie school had a special early morning snack one day last week, and they didn't even have to take it with them.

Everyone received 250 ml of milk on Sept. 26, which was the second annual International School Milk Day.

Delivering jugs of milk from classroom to classroom was dental therapist Lisa Rettman, who explained that the day was started by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Last week was the second such event.

"This is the first time this has ever been done here in Inuvik," Rettman said.

Children could be spotted lining up for the cool treat, and Rettman confirmed they were all excited.

"Absolutely, yeah. They're looking forward to the next time we can do it."

All the children also received a bookmark, and three classrooms received various promotional items such as pens, pencils, pamphlets, posters and post-it notes.

Keri Pinsent's Grade 2A and Ruby Blake's Grade 1A classes also held their own Moolympics last week.

Helping out Rettman was Eileen Kabaroff, regional nutritionist for the Inuvik Regional Health and Social Services Board. She said milk is important for growing kids.

"Not only do they need the calcium for bone development, but it's good for healthy teeth," Kabaroff said.

"It provides a good source of protein and vitamins and minerals, so it's very wholesome."

Kabaroff noted many kids are drinking more pop now, and that pop has been shown to lead to obesity.

The event was sponsored in Inuvik by the Nihtat Gwich'in Recreation and the Inuvik RCMP. Thanks was given to Pat Simmons, promotion assistant with Alberta Milk.

The milk was purchased from Stanton Group Ltd.

Inuvik was the only NWT community taking part. Newfoundland, Saskatchewan and Alberta communities also took part. Other participating countries were Austria, Sweden, Switzerland, Brazil, Lebanon, Thailand, South Africa and China.