Students at Mangilaluk School in Tuktoyaktuk missed out on an East Three School volleyball tournament earlier this year because the cost of flights would have been over $8,000.

SA国际影视传媒淭his time we have the road, so we could charter a bus for a fraction of the price,SA国际影视传媒� said teacher Louis Cormier, who brought eight students to a badminton tournament at the school last weekend, thanks to the new Inuvik Tuktoyaktuk Highway.

SA国际影视传媒淣ow itSA国际影视传媒檚 affordable. Eight thousand (dollars) for a community of less than 1,000 people is not feasible.SA国际影视传媒�

The ice road in years past would not have been ready yet, so the highway now provides year-round car travel between the communities.

Students from Mangilaluk School had a few prerequisites before they could attend, including at least an 80 per cent attendance rate, passing their grades and participating in practices.

SA国际影视传媒淪ports is a very important part of a school program,SA国际影视传媒� said Cormier, adding that being part of a team motivates youth to attend school.

SA国际影视传媒淎 lot of the kids who are on teams are only at school because of their teams. It not only gives you a good, healthy lifestyle, but it motivates the kids, who have a chance to excel at something other than academics.SA国际影视传媒�

He doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 mind sleeping on an air mattress at East Three School overnight if it gives the students a chance to play.

SA国际影视传媒淲e make sure the kids have a chance to participate in sports,SA国际影视传媒� said Cormier.

East Three Secondary School gym teacher Colin Pybus echoes the importance of youth sport involvement.

SA国际影视传媒淚f you want to be on sports teams, you need to be coming to school,SA国际影视传媒� said Pybus. SA国际影视传媒淪ometimes thatSA国际影视传媒檚 the motivation for kids. The energy, release and everything that comes with being active is scientifically proven to increase academics and help students function better in the classroom.SA国际影视传媒�

He said it gives students something to look forward to at school, a chance to travel and participate in tournaments.

SA国际影视传媒淭hings like that are all rewards for kids coming to school, being in their classrooms and doing what theySA国际影视传媒檙e supposed to be doing as students,SA国际影视传媒� said Pybus.

Like Cormier, Pybus doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 mind making some sacrifices to see youth get these opportunities. He volunteers his time to run tournaments like last weekendSA国际影视传媒檚 badminton one, which saw more than 50 players from four communities. Inuvik, Tuktoyaktuk, Paulatuk and Fort McPherson were all represented at the event.

SA国际影视传媒淲e always love it when any of the communities come to our tournaments,SA国际影视传媒� said Pybus.

SA国际影视传媒淲e donSA国际影视传媒檛 put them on just for Inuvik. We put them on for the entire Delta, so weSA国际影视传媒檙e always welcoming anybody to come.SA国际影视传媒�

This weekend, Pybus is chaperoning seven high school students taking part in a territorial badminton tournament in Yellowknife.

Any youth interested in trying out for badminton in the Arctic Winter Games must contact Pybus before Dec. 15.