Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Apr 30/04) - A tool box is a whole different story from a wall frame.

The latter is what James Simon was expecting to make in a construction category at the Skills Canada competition in Yellowknife earlier this month.

James Simon, a Grade 10 student at Thomas Simpson school, made the third best tool box out of nine challengers in his division at the NWT/Nunavut Skills Canada competition in Yellowknife on April 16. - Derek Neary/NNSL photo

Due to a misunderstanding, Simon and a number of his competitors were caught off guard when they found out they were actually in a carpentry division. Their assignment? To craft a wooden toolbox.

Rob Manuel, construction and carpentry instructor at Thomas Simpson school, said Simon had been practising wall framing and pretty well had it down to a fine science. Nevertheless, Simon made the most of the circumstances in the NWT capital, according to Manuel, who was on hand for the event.

"He still did very well," he said. "They were praising him. They said he sure know his way around the shop. It's a feather in his cap."

Simon, 16, brought home the bronze medal for his efforts. It took him five hours -- the competitors were given a maximum six -- to make the 10"x14"x35" wooden tool box. He said putting the ends on the project proved most challenging.

"You had to have the right heights on each side in order to get it right," he said.

Everyone was given rough cuts of wood to start. The tools in the industrial arts shop at Sir John Franklin school were at their disposal.

"They have big areas to work in," Simon said of the facility. "You had access to more machines than what we have here."

The entries that were judged as first and second best were better because they had superior finishing, with the rough edges sanded smoothly, Simon noted.

This has been his first full year of construction and carpentry class. He took it for one semester in Grade 7. Over that time he has assembled a night table, cupboards, and shelves.

Simon is also interested in mechanics, but he may parlay his woodworking skills into future work.

"I wouldn't mind having it as an off and on job," he said.