Yukon Energy Corporation and the Yukon Curling Association are teaming up to encourage and promote the sport of curling among youth in the territory.

The program, called Yukon Energy Lights Up the House' will see members of the Yukon's Canada Winter Games curling team travel to rural communities to give weekend curling workshops to children and teenagers. The youth will be assisted by Al Kersey, a highly skilled coach from Vancouver.

'What appeals to Yukon Energy about this project is the idea of youth teaching youth,' Yukon Energy spokesperson Janet Patterson said. 'It's a learning experience for all involved, and we're happy to be able to sponsor such a program.'

The Yukon Energy Lights Up the House' program will take place in Mayo on Jan. 4 and in Dawson on Jan. 5. The curling association hopes to expand the workshops to several other Yukon communities in the future.

Last spring, the Yukon Curling Association approached Yukon Energy Corporation with the idea of sending two Whitehorse based curling teams to a couple of outside communities in the territory. Yukon Enegry liked the idea of this initiative taking place in the communities, which will allow youth there the opportunity to experience the sport without having to travel anywhere.

One workshop will be put on in each community, which will both feature a powerpoint presentation that will outline what the sport is all about, tips on proper technique as well as how to be successful in the sport and pictures of both teams competing in prominent bonspiels, such as the Canada Winter Games, Junior Nationals and the Arctic Winter Games.

The presentation will conclude with a question and answer session. The Yukon Curling Association is also hoping to have some actual on-ice demonstrations on top of the powerpoint presentation.

Both communities have curling rinks to accomodate on-ice demonstrations.

The goal of this initiative is to attract youth in the territory to the sport.

'The foundation of any sport is to get youth involved,' said Don Duncan, the Junior Co-ordinator for the Yukon Curling Association. 'In Whitehorse we have so many sports and so many opportunites to curl with the Whitehorse Curling Club, so we are just hoping to increase the number of juniors involved in the sport of curling (in the territory.)'

Duncan hopes this initiative inspires youth in both communities to take up the sport.

'As long as we are able to to get out there and able to do this even if we can get one team out of each community that will be a success,' he said.

He said both curling teams from Whitehorse are excited about being involved in the program.

'They are looking forward to giving back to the sport of curling that they have been able to achieve with their successes.'

Duncan said the Yukon Curling Association wouldn't be able to run this type of program without the help of Yukon Enegry, who will provide financial support for expenses such as travel and hotel costs.

Both organizations will meet after the two events are held to discuss how they went.

'Our main objective is to spark interest in curling throughout the territory and make the sport affordable and accessible to all Yukon youth,' Yukon Curling Association President Gordon Zealand said. 'It would be very difficult for us to run this program without Yukon Energy's help and we're grateful for the company's financial support.'

The Yukon Curling Association is hoping to put on future workshops in Haines Junction, Pelly Crossing, Carmacks, Teslin and Watson Lake.

All curling workshops will be free to the participants and will include instruction, meals and prizes.

Information provided by the Yukon Curling Association and Yukon Energy Corporation.