Tara Kearsey
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (May 15/02) - After two days of non-stop roller-coasters and fun in the California sun, six Yellowknife special needs kids arrived home with permanent smiles.

The trip -- which is an annual event made possible by First Air, Air Canada's 'Dreams Take Flight' and other corporate donors -- has made dreams come true for special- needs children in Northern Canada for the past eight years.

This year the lucky participants went to Edmonton and then flew to Disneyland in California, May 7-9. They were Sarah Topilikon, 12, Sheree Rose Singh, 12, Frederick Hess, 8, Andrew Ovayuak, 9, Gerald Koopman, 13, and Christopher Ugyuk, 7. Chaperons were Brian Kolvack and Martina Hynes-Walsh of Yellowknife Health and Social Services.

After arriving in Edmonton on May 7, the group met up with more than 100 other children from Northern Alberta and headed to the West Edmonton Mall.

There they went on a submarine ride, viewed a dolphin show and shopped 'til they dropped.

Bright and early the next morning they caught a 4 a.m. flight to Los Angeles, California, where they spent the entire day at Disneyland.

"My favorite part was definitely going on all the rides," said Topilikon, who enjoyed the Indiana Jones Temple of Doom above any other. The Temple of Doom also appeared to be the favoured attraction of all the kids.

Kolvack said the kids were in awe of the big city sights and were very well-behaved.

"We didn't have any problems whatsoever. Nobody got lost, they all listened very well ... I think it was top notch," he said.

All the kids were hoping to convince their chaperons to stay a little bit longer, but all good things come to an end.

"I wanted to stay! I definitely want to go back," said Hess.