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PANNIQTUUQ/PANGNIRTUNG - For some students from Pangnirtung, this was the first time they saw a traffic light or the first time they saw and heard thunder.

Attagoyuk School students get ready to leave Pangnirtung for the big city of Toronto. From left are Amy Lewis, Mary Rose Kilabuk, teacher Nicole Davies and Justin Nakashuk. - photo courtesy of Nicole Davies

"I almost got lost as it's a little bit bigger than Pang," said Malektoo Nooshoopa, a student at Attagoyuk School in Pangnirtung, who went on the graduate trip to Ontario.

Fourteen students along with two teachers from the school, went to Ottawa, Kingston and Toronto, not only to take in the sights but also to learn what post secondary educational opportunities are available.

From May 23 to 31, the students had a jam-packed itinerary full of activities.

The first stop was to check out the Nunavut Sivuniksavut post-secondary preparatory program in Ottawa.

Next on the tour was going to Kingston to see what kind of courses were available at St. Lawrence College.

Simona Akulukjuk said after seeing the school she would like to study there in the future.

"It was fun to see all the students there and what their lives are like," she said.

All throughout their tour, the group did traditional throatsinging and drum dancing presentations.

"Everyone was happy we performed for them and they were clapping," said Leah Dialla.

The last five days were spent in Toronto.

"It was awesome," said Nooshoopa.

A lot of the time was spent touring and included stops to the Toronto Zoo, the Hockey Hall of Fame, Canada's Wonderland, CN Tower as well as shopping.

A lot of the students loved going up the CN Tower, where the top floor is 446 metres above ground.

"It was up high, it was scary and someone was jumping on the glass," Akulukjuk said.

The community was supportive of the students' trip and helped them raise the $21,000 needed to go.

"A big thank you to those who helped us fundraise," Dialla said.

The students held loonie/toonie sales, cake walks, bingo and dances.

Grade 10, 11 and 12 teacher Nicole Davies said for the last four years the school has been organizing field trips. This one had a different goal.

"The purpose was for them to check out colleges and universities they might go to next year and to explore the cities to see if they are a good fit for them," she said.

She said the trip seemed to be a success as about half the students are interested in doing post-secondary education and have started to fill out the paperwork required.

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