Rankin Inlet (July 28/03) - Teachers who met and fell in love in the North decided to give parkas to kids in need instead of spending that money on their wedding party.

"I wanted to do something a little different," said Kristi Smith, 30, who was to marry Rob Poissant, 28, yesterday.

Smith taught at Leo Ussak elementary school in Rankin Inlet. Poissant was a teacher at Alaittiuq high school.

Principal at Leo Ussak, Cheryl Forbes, has been making parkas for years and was more than happy to assist the couple.

Forbes has done all kinds of parka donations over, but the wedding was a new twist.

"This is the first time I ever heard of that," Forbes said.

"I thought everybody gave the bride and groom presents. I didn't think the bride and groom gave people presents."

"We wanted to do it," said Smith. "We wanted to give something back to the kids in the community."

Two children received their parkas and wind pants thanks to the donation.

With Forbes' help, they picked out what colours they wanted their parkas to be beforehand.

The boy's is a navy and bright blue pullover with a coyote fox trim on the hood. The little girl's is navy and purple with a zipper down the front.

The couple planned to show slides of their time in the North at their wedding, in Smith's home town of Thunder Bay, Ont.

In August, Smith and Poissant will move to new teaching jobs in Kimmirut.