Territory’s teens tackle trades at Iqaluit competition

They baked. They built. And they did a little hairstyling, too.

Ian Dialla of Pangnirtung measures a board while making a dog house at the Skills Canada Nunavut Territorial Skills Competition in Iqaluit on Sunday. (Photo by Daron Letts)

More than three dozen teens from across Nunavut put their know-how to the test Saturday and Sunday at the Skills Canada Nunavut Territorial Skills Competition, held in Iqaluit.

“All the kids who come here have a blast,” Brandon Villeneuve, executive director of Skills Canada Nunavut, said in an interview Sunday morning.

By Sunday afternoon, the students’ smiles had turned to expressions of determination and concentration as they got to work.

In all, 37 Nunavut teens ages 13 through 19 participated across 13 trades.

Most of the competitions were held at École des Trois-Soleils, the French-language school, while the bakers competed in the teaching kitchen at nearby Aqsarniit Ilinniarvik School.

“Baking was really popular,” Villeneuve said.

Six teens competed in the kitchen this year, with Sophea Haulli of Igloolik earning baking gold.

In the carpentry competition, Ian Dialla of Pangnirtung built a doghouse to win a gold medal.

Although he excelled in the trade, Dialla said he aspires to become a pilot.

“I just want to learn something new and try something new,” he said of his choice to compete.

Emmalie Alivaktuk, also of Pangnirtung, zeroed in on her longtime goal of becoming a hairstylist. She practised perms, updos, cuts and hair colouring, under the guidance of Iqaluit instructor Amy Spracklin.

“Since I was young, I’ve been interested in doing hair,” Alivaktuk said. “It’s exciting because I’m finally learning.”

Emmalie Alivaktuk of Pangnirtung watches hairstyling instructor Amy Spracklin demonstrate a technique during the Skills Canada Nunavut Territorial Skills Competition in Iqaluit on Sunday. (Photo by Daron Letts)

Igloolik students Diane Kunnuk and Seporah Satuqsi teamed up to create a digital animation, earning them gold medals with support from retired television animator and educator Greg Brown of Iqaluit, who acted as a judge in the animation category.

“I’ve got a couple of really talented kids, so we’ve been able to hit the ground running,” Brown said, as he stepped back to watch the students work independently on their project midday Sunday.

Other categories teens competed in included small engine maintenance, beading, parka-making, public speaking, photography, videography, cooking, and workplace safety.

No students competed in electrical or plumbing this year.

“It happens,” Villeneuve said. “We’ll be going to more places and starting involvement earlier and seeing if we can get kids interested in those areas.”

Except for the beading and parka-making categories, which were for Nunavut only, other winners will be eligible to compete at the Skills Canada national competition at Toronto’s Enercare Centre on May 28 and 29.

Skills Canada Nunavut staff and local educators will speak to the gold medalists to discuss the opportunity in coming weeks, Villeneuve said.