Dorothy Westerman
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 27/05) - It has been said a good restaurant server can anticipate one's dining needs before they are conveyed.

Julian Morse of Yellowknife was one of several participants who had the chance to hone such marketable serving skills during last week's Skills Canada territorial skills competition.

"I've been working at Le Frolic for the past two months and they thought it would be a good experience for me," Morse said.

"It's very fast-paced; you have to have a good memory and you also have to have a lot of self-esteem and confidence," Morse said, describing the demands of food service.

As a competitor, Morse served food to guests at St. Pat's high school while being judged on technique and skills.

Youth from across the Northwest Territories and Nunavut gathered to show their expertise in various skilled trades during the day-long event.

Sylvie LeFort, program administrator for Skills Canada NWT/Nunavut, said the one-day competition promoted trades and technological careers available in the North.

"It's also about pride. They get to compete, they get to have fun," LeFort said.

At the end of the day, a national team of competitors was chosen to travel to Edmonton.

Various competitors in the event held at St. Pat's included aesthetics, hairstyling, restaurant service, television video and graphic design.

"Each contest has its different scope and skills are tested from that area," LeFort said.

"For hairstyling, they might test for an updo or a ladies' cut," she said of an example of a competition.

About 110 youth from both St. Pat's and Sir John Franklin schools, including the Kimberlite Centre, competed during the event.

Skills Canada gold medal winners:

Welding: Lawrence Lafferty, Rae-Edzo

TV/video production: Miranda Booth and Morgan Barrett, Yellowknife

Carpentry: Mitchell Madsen, Yellowknife

Auto service: Chris Gillander, Yellowknife

Worksite safety: Peter Boggis, Yellowknife

Worksite safety junior: Laura Corey, Yellowknife

Small powered equipment: Kyle Wheaton, Yellowknife

Restaurant service, post secondary: Julian Morse, Yellowknife

Restaurant service, secondary: Aaron Morrison, Yellowknife

Heavy duty equipment mechanic: Reg Evans, Hay River

Electrical wiring: Matthew Fraser, Yellowknife

Graphic design: Andrea Fleury, Yellowknife

Plumbing: Lee Buller, Yellowknife

Aircraft maintenance: Mark Roberts, Yellowknife

Culinary arts, post secondary: Ethan Mackenzie, Yellowknife

Culinary arts, secondary: Thomas McQuat, Yellowknife

Hairstyling, secondary: Gillian Rivers, Yellowknife

Diamond polishing, round brilliant: Lisa Ulrich, Yellowknife

Diamond polishing, straight line fancy: Noonee Spanspariel, Yellowknife

Prepared speech: Lauren Solski, Iqaluit

Hairstyling, post secondary: Sheilla Aoudla, Iqaluit

Team NWT/Nunavut going to the Canadian Skills Competition in Edmonton, June 3-6:

Lawrence Lafferty , Lee Buller, Matthew Fraser, Mitchell Madsen , Gillian Rivers, Jennifer Twerdin, Sheilla Aoudla, Elizabeth Harrison, Thomas McQuat, Ethan Mackenzie, Aaron Morrison, Ashley Tufts, Andrea Fleury, Kyle Wheaton, Morgan Barrett, Miranda Booth, Lauren Solski, Mandy Lyons, Mark Roberts, Peter Boggis, Lana Shave ad Reg Evans