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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
After a summer of hard work students with summer jobs in Fort Simpson had the chance to have a little fun on Aug. 10.

Dwight Hardisty, left, Tyler Pilling, Ashton Peterson and Danita Allaire were the winning team in the Fort Simpson Amazing Race held by the Department of Human Resources for summer students in the village on Aug. 10. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Despite pouring rain, summer students working in teams were running around the village figuring out clues, answering trivia questions and completing tasks all in the hopes of being the first team to cross the finish line. Up for grabs was an undisclosed prize and the bragging rights of being the winners of this year's Fort Simpson Amazing Race.

For the past three years, the Department of Human Resources in Fort Simpson has been organizing an event for summer students working with the territorial government based on the popular reality television show. This year the department opened the event up to all summer students in the village.

Twenty-six summer students were divided into six teams to compete in the event. The students represented eight employers including the territorial government, Dehcho First Nations, Liidlii Kue First Nations, the Deh Cho Friendship Centre, Parks Canada, the Village of Fort Simpson, Enbridge and Wolverine Air/South Nahanni Airways.

"We wanted to show that we stand behind them and recognize that they worked all summer as well," said Celine Antoine, the manager of Dehcho Human Resources Client Services.

"We also want to encourage the students to stay in school," she said.

Danita Allaire, a summer student with the Department of Human Resources, co-ordinated the event and also competed. Beginning at the recreation centre, each team received a clue that led them to an organization in the village.

At that location they had to answer trivia questions about the village or organization correctly before receiving a task they had to complete before getting their next clue.

Allaire said she particularly enjoyed the challenge at Dehcho Health and Social Services where the teams had to create a music video about the Deh Cho River.

"That was the funnest one," she said.

Miranda Elleze, who is working with Dehcho First Nations for the summer, said she liked the obstacle course at the recreation centre. Each member of the team had to make their way through the course blindfolded with the help of a team member.

"It was the simplest," she said.

Elleze said The Amazing Race is a good idea, particularly now that all of the summer students in the village are invited to participate.

All of the teams finished the race at the Seven Spruce Golf Course where a barbecue was held. The participants also listened to short speeches by local leaders including Mayor Sean Whelly and MLA Kevin Menicoche, who spoke about the importance of summer jobs as stepping stones towards larger things.

The winners of the race were also announced. The first place team was Ashton Peterson, Tyler Pilling, Dwight Hardisty and Danita Allaire followed in second place by Dawn Bell, Mikhaela Antoine, Jennifer Thistle and Dylan Cazon who also won the prize for the best music video.

The two teams each won a free flight with Great Slave Helicopters.

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