Yellowknife (Feb 26/03) - Two students from Weledeh Catholic school were in Edmonton over the weekend attending their first NHL game.

Zharina Zaragoza and Clarissa Kogiak attended an Edmonton Oilers game over the weekend after winning a drug awareness contest. - Chris Puglia/NNSL photo

Zharina Zaragoza and Clarissa Kogiak got to watch the Edmonton Oilers battle the Vancouver Canucks after winning the Onside Program's NWT poster contest. It was the first time either of the girls have been to a professional hockey game.

Onside was developed in Manitoba to enhance communication between youth and the police. The initiative has been operating in the NWT for the past five years.

"It's introduced into every community by a visiting RCMP member," said Cpl. Charolette Joa, drug awareness co-ordinator with the Yellowknife RCMP.

Joa said youth from a variety of communities participated in the contest.

Zaragoza won based on her poster that depicted what a person on drugs looks like versus what a sober person looks like.

Kogiak's scene was a medical rescue of a person who had overdosed on drugs.

Both students said they believed the Onside Program is a good initiative.

"The most important thing we learned is drugs are addictive and drugs are very dangerous," said Zaragoza.