Yellowknife (Feb 16/05) - Young men from across the North participated in a one-day workshop designed as an introduction to various career choices after high school.

"The whole purpose is to give young people a real hands-on experience with a trade or technology," said Guy Barnable, executive director of Skills Canada.

Rollie Comeau of Central Mechanical Systems Ltd. in Yellowknife teaches student Matthew Whiteford how to build a sheet metal toolbox during a Power Up workshop. - Dorothy Westerman/NNSL photo

Held at the Explorer Hotel, Monday, the conference is now in its third year.

About 150 Grade 8 students from both Northwest Territories and Nunavut participated. They discussed career options and also attended two hands-on workshops during the event.

"We've tried to set it up to be an interactive career fair," Barnable said.

It's aimed at Grade 8 to give them a chance to choose the right high school courses to meet their career goals.

Popular trade career choices include sheet metal work, becoming an electrician, and heavy duty equipment mechanics.

In the technology sector, Barnable said graphic design and website development are popular.

During the hands-on workshop, students had the opportunity to meet with various tradespeople and professions and try their hands at on-the-job skills.

Several Yellowknife students participated in a sheet metal workshop held at Central Mechanical Systems Ltd.

Matthew Whiteford said the entire workshop was fun.

"I enjoyed it. I made this toolbox," he said.

Andrew Jossa also liked the conference.

He said he has several career choices in mind for when he graduates from Grade 12.

"I'm thinking electrician, carpenter or something in construction," he said.

Barnable said when planning the yearly conference, the goal is to target careers which are currently in demand, especially in the North.

"Across Canada there is a trades and technical skills shortage and I think that is magnified in the NWT and Nunavut," Barnable said.

"It's in the North, it is natural-resource rich and a lot of natural resource careers tend to be trade-type careers."