IQALUIT - Building out the framing for a wall isn't as easy as it looks. It involves math, precision, physical activity and a lot of hard work.

Student Kevin Ongahak from Kugluktuk hammers a nail as part of the framing for a wall he was working on. He along with 50 other Nunavummiut participated in the Skills Canada Nunavut competition on April 12 in Iqaluit. Carpentry was one of the many skilled trades categories featured. - Emily Ridlington/NNSL photo Gold medal winners Prepared speech - Virginia Ullyot, Baker Lake Workplace safety - Sabrina Nakoolak, Taloyoak Baking - Vayda Kaviok, Arviat Jewelry making (post secondary) - Silas Qulaut, Iqaluit Cooking - Sylvain Degrasse Junior, Qikiqtarjuaq Photography - Alex Duffy, Coral Harbour Carpentry (secondary) - Kevin Ongahak, Kugluktuk Carpentry (post secondary) - Blaine Chislett, Rankin Inlet TV/video team (intermediate) - Mary Omole and Mnesoma Umenwofer-Nweze, Iqaluit TV/video team (secondary) - Suzanne Qavavau and Anna Awolki, Taloyoak Graphic design - Bobby Tagoona, Baker Lake Hairdressing (secondary) - Nadine Sheema Boutilier, Iqaluit Hairdressing (post secondary) - Andrea Flaherty, Iqaluit Aesthetics (secondary) - Sherilyn Sewoee, Arviat Source: Skills Canada Nunavut

Five students taking part in the Skills Canada Nunavut competition rose to the challenge on April 12 in Iqaluit.

"You have to remember about the pitch and how to put in the window," said James Bolt, a Grade 10 student from Kugluktuk.

Some 50 competitors from 10 communities took part in various skills competitions such as hairdressing, cooking, baking, prepared speech, graphic design, TV and video production, workplace safety, photography, aesthetics, jewelry and carpentry.

The competition is designed to promote jobs, apprenticeships and opportunities in the skilled trades and technology sectors.

Bolt and the other students in the carpentry competition did their projects at the Community and Government Services and Arctic College carpentry shop.

He said he enjoyed the experience.

"It's awesome because it's fun and you get to meet new people," he said.

He and the other students had six hours to finish the project.

As for what his future holds, he said it is a toss-up between a career as a welder or carpenter.

Carpenters Chris Lahure and Lloyd Kendall acted as judges and answered the students' questions. Kendall is president of Skills Canada Nunavut and said the competition provokes interest in the skilled trades.

"Mining is going to be big with the construction of job sites, camps, road building - any trade you can think of there will be opportunity for," he said.

Two of the five students in the carpentry event were post secondary and studying carpentry at Arctic College. Lahure said their project had a couple of additions including a staircase to make it more difficult.

He said being trained in a skilled trade also helps boost the local economy.

"If you have more skilled tradespeople in your community that actually live here, it's a lot easier to get the work done and the money stays here."

While all the construction was happening, Keith Alikut and Patrick Sulurayok from Arviat were capturing it on film. Both 20-year-olds are in Grade 12 and were competing in the TV and video production category.

Alikut said their assignment was to make a promotional video about Skills Canada Nunavut. They chose to focus on four activities: hairdressing, baking, and graphic design in addition to carpentry.

With a theme of "brightening their future" they spent the day gathering shots and then putting it all together during the editing phase.

Both just started using video cameras at school in January.

"We're amateurs," Alikut said with a laugh.

The whole experience was a big opportunity for Sulurayok.

"I have never been to Iqaluit or part of Skills Canada so this journey is very special," he said.

A delegation of gold medal winners from this territorial competition will represent Nunavut at the nationals in Quebec City at the beginning of June.

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