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Nunavut film crew of two aims for gold at Skills Canada nationals

When Jenny Aqqaq's partner had to withdraw from competing at Skills Canada nationals for personal reasons, a veteran competitor gladly stepped in to help.

Jenny Aqqaq, a Grade 10 student at Qiqirtaq Ilihakvik in Gjoa Haven, and Isaac Strickland of Iqaluit shoot film with a Nikon D750 camera at Skills Canada nationals in Halifax on Tuesday. NNSL photo

Iqaluit's Isaac Strickland was enlisted to be Aqqaq's partner, giving her an experienced teammate. Strickland has competed at Skills Canada nationals four times previously -- last year in video production and the three years prior in robotics.

"Definitely, it helps a lot," Strickland, 19, said of his previous exposure to the national-level event. "Hands-on experience is the best."

The pair were filming a promotional video on Tuesday morning, with a goal of producing clips that reinforce the importance of skilled trades. They nabbed a Skills Canada coach and a media officer to act out their script, which Strickland said would be satirical with plenty of "attitude and sass."

They'll spend the afternoon editing their video on Final Cut Pro 10.

"I'm passionate in film and photo. I'm definitely going to make a career out of it," Strickland said.

Aqqaq said she too wants to make a living in film production. She became inspired when film-making program Reel Youth visited Gjoa Haven in January. Since then, she's been honing her abilities by shooting video of teachers at school, she said.

Although she's admittedly nervous at her first Skills Canada nationals, her objective is to leave with the gold medal, she said.