Yellowknife (Mar 03/04) - Community members eager to learn how to use PhotoShop or just tinker on a Pentium-3 computer have a new option last week.

Yellowknife Education District 1, along with the Yellowknife Smart Communities Society, opened a new computer lab at Sir John Franklin high school, Saturday.

The lab, within the school's existing computer room, is open to the general public, complete with an on-site instructor.

The open lab is an effort by the public education district to engage the community in education, says Richard Hintz, the IT projects manager for the district.

"It's for people who don't have access to the most modern technology to be able to come in and have someone give them a hand," says Hintz.

"It's just a matter of getting the word out and letting people know what kind of resource they have here."

The lab is the second of its kind to open in Yellowknife. K'alemi Dene school in Ndilo opened its 16-computer lab to the community in October.

The success of that project spurred on the Sir John Franklin lab, says Hintz.

Students in Ndilo stay after school to use the software and programs, often alongside elders and members of the aboriginal community.

"It's just been awesome," Hintz says of the Ndilo project.

After the opening day at Sir John Franklin, he expects parents, students, and others to jump at the chance for computer instruction and use.

"This is really quite unique," says Hintz.

The lab is open Monday and Wednesday, from 7-10 p.m. and Saturday from 1-5 p.m.