Yellowknife (Dec 11/06) - A shipment of guitars will soon be flying to the NWT, thanks to some Ontario sponsors.

Brad Hill, who is Director of the Guitars to Kids program and the Canadian Guitar Players' Association, said First Air will soon be delivering 24 guitars to schools in Yellowknife, Wrigley, Deline, Holman, Inuvik and Fort McPherson.

The guitars were donated by the Erikson Instrument Distribution Company and the Strings Across the Sky program, which brought Holman fiddler Tony Alanak to Ontario in June to play a concert.

"We've been arranging the logistics of shipping from Ontario to Edmonton since mid-summer, it's just been a matter of finding an air carrier who was willing to help us out," Hill said.

As a guitar player for 20 years, he said he felt the instruments were sure to be appreciated.

"Acoustic guitars are very portable and lightweight. It's easy to tote around and get together and play with other musicians," he said.

In Holman, teacher Mark LeBourdais said he looked forward to seeing the instruments arrive, since Helen Kalvak school has three guitars, which he said are in bad condition.

"When they get here, I'm hoping to start a guitar club after school," he said.

"There's definitely some students who want to learn."

Hill said the guitars are currently in transit, and are expected to arrive within a few weeks.