Yumimi Pang
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, July 3, 2008

Iqaluit - Iqaluit’s own Markoosie Peter got a chance to show off his spelling skills recently, getting one step closer to becoming Canada’s Super Speller. Canada’s Super Speller is a new CBC series, part spelling competition, part documentary.

Markoosie Peter, 12, holds up his Canada's Super Speller participation medal.

Peter, 12, beat out tough online competition, with contestants numbering in the tens of thousands, to become one of 400 local qualifiers across Canada.

“To get this far, they have to be pretty good,” said Jed MacKay, the show’s creative consultant.

The distinction meant that a Canada’s Super Speller film crew arrived in Iqaluit with the express purpose of having an individual testing session with Peter. Peter received a medal of participation.

“It was awesome,” said Peter, moments after emerging from his one-on-one session with the show’s producer, held in the Iqaluit city council chambers on May 31. During the session, the Grade 6 student had to spell a string of words of varying difficulty and perform in a speed-spelling round.

“I’m proud of him,” said his mother, Jeannie Peter.

As part of the documentary side of the show, MacKay also interviewed Peter to get to know him since the show is also interested in the child contestants and their lives.

The show is meant to be an opportunity for Canadian kids to highlight their literacy skills, have fun with words and stoke community spirit.

“We wanted to develop a show that engendered a love of learning,” said MacKay, careful to add the show won’t be based on a spelling bee, but spelling challenges.

After the film crews visit all 400 kids, the field will be narrowed to 48 contestants who will square off during regional competitions that will be held later this summer in Halifax, Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver.

From there, the top 12 will compete in the semi-finals and finals, with numerous prizes to be won, including a $20,000 registered education savings plan.

The air date of Canada’s Super Speller has yet to be determined.