Yellowknife, N.W.T. - Yellowknife hosted the Territorial Skills Competition on Tuesday and local students were well represented among the gold medalists.

Ryan Webb and John Spoelder came out on top in the secondary and post-secondary auto services competition, respectively.

Richard Nearly won for electrical wiring, Katharine Thomas was the cream of the crop in graphic design, while Travis Guild of Hay River took gold in the heavy equipment competition.  

The competition is a chance for students to show off their talents in the skilled trades. 

Foods instructor at Sir John Franklin High School, Travis Stewart, noted that the competition helps change students attitudes about the skilled trades.

"It really gives the kids a chance to see what is out there for career options. I find that so many kids now are naturally defaulting towards university careers, and there just simply aren't the jobs available for university graduates that there might have been fifteen years ago."

One of Stewart's students, Aimee Yurris, won the baking competition and he described the hard work that will go into training for nationals.

"We're going to be doing a lot of practicing and coaching and working on that menu over the next three weeks. So probably in here every day on the weekend and probably in here a couple of days after school, really just getting ready."

Gold medalists will have an opportunity to represent the NWT at nationals in Edmonton next month.

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