SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Parents, students, teachers and others wanting to learn milled about the Mildred Hall School gymnasium Saturday taking in the wealth of information offered by 82 science and heritage projects at the Regional Learning Fair.

Weledeh students Madison Smith, left, and Enika Fontanilla stand by their project where they recreated how a lava lamp works Saturday at the Regional Learning Fair at Mildred Hall School. -

After the judging took place Friday, the projects were showcased to the public before students received medals at the Regional Learning Fair.

Damian Panayi came to the fair to support his son, Jack, whose project was on display with the others, but took the time to look at the other subjects carefully researched and displayed.

"I'm just looking around seeing what I can learn, making sure that some of the things I thought I knew were correct. You can tell the kids put a lot of work into it," he said.

Projects ranged from Arctic icebergs to the War of 1812 to Dene clothing.

Many of the students had smiles on their faces as they shared their projects with friends and family, the stressful atmosphere of the judging behind them.

"It's a lot more relaxed. It's more fun just talking about your project with friends," said Grade 4 student Shauna Colbourne.

Organizer and teacher Monique Marinier said Saturday's regional fair, named a 'learning fair' was centred around both science and heritage, although the pan-territorial fair is solely for heritage projects.

"There's a heritage facet and a science facet, both sides of the story. There are kids here from all the schools in Yellowknife."

In total, 10 students - six from Yellowknife Education District No. 1 and four from Yellowknife Catholic Schools - will move forward to the pan-territorial heritage fair taking place later this week at the Prince of Wales Heritage Centre.

Marinier said she will not have a concrete list of participants until closer to the competition.

"From the winners, both school boards are going to pick their representatives for the pan-territorials," said Marinier.

Students represented Weledeh Catholic School, Range Lake North, William McDonald Middle School, N.J. Macpherson, J. H. Sissons, Mildred Hall and K'alemi Dene School.

Delegates will begin arriving in Yellowknife from the Yukon, Nunavut and across the NWT on Wednesday for a few days of cultural activities before the fair comes to a close on Saturday.

The official medal ceremony will take place Friday at the heritage centre as well as at a dinner at the legislative assembly.

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