Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Tootoo at home

Rankin Inlet's very own NHLer, Jordin Tootoo of the Nashville Predators, touched down in his home community this past week for a welldeserved vacation after the rigors of another NHL season.

As is the case every year he visits, Tootoo immediately spent time with local youth and was onhand to present a number of awards during closing ceremonies for local schools.

Tootoo will be spending most of this month in Rankin.

He brought a smile to the faces of students and staff at Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik when he announced he was sponsoring a special award this year, in which a student will fly to Edmonton with an escort to see an NHL game between the Predators and the Edmonton Oilers.

The gift also includes a pass to the dressing room to meet the Nashville players.

The school selected Jamie Airut as the lucky winner of the award, which was presented by Tootoo during annual award day celebrations this past week.

Doll talk

Rankin Inlet artist and project co-ordinator Helen AbenReynen is scheduled to give an artist's talk and presentation on her work that will include the birth and development of the Kivalliq Doll Project (a prayer and labour of love) on June 13 in Lethbridge, Alta.AbenReynen will will tell the story through her doll, Sedna Eskimo Point, and the materials she is made from. The Rankin-based artist will deliver her presentation at the local library and a number of schools in the area through the Textile Surface Design Guild in Lethbridge.

Midnight run

The Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce and Shear Minerals Ltd. are sponsoring the 2010 Midnight Sun Run in Rankin Inlet on June 21.

The five-km run or walk will begin at 5:30 p.m. at Rankin's community hall, with a barbecue to follow at 7 p.m.

The corporate registration fee for the event is $1,000, with families and individuals able to register for $5 a family or $1 per person.

All money raised by the event will be donated to Rankin's three schools to promote healthy living for all students.

The deadline to register for the walk is June 16, and those interested may obtain a registration form from Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce coordinator Kelly Clark.

Suicide prevention

Areva Resources Canada Ltd. sponsored a suicideprevention workshop in Baker Lake this past month.

The twoday session followed on the heels of a similar workshop the uraniummining company held in Saskatoon, Sask., a week earlier.

Closing activities

Leo Ussak Elementary School in Rankin Inlet concluded a successful school year with a number of activities this past week.

The school held a special Beach Day on May 31, which featured shorts and sunglasses galore, before ending the year with the kindergarten graduation on June 1 and the Grade 4 graduation on June 2.

Students who pass Grade 4 in Rankin move to Simon Alaittuq School the following year to begin their Grade 5 studies.

The school also unveiled its new student awards this year, which were all given Inuktitut names to make them more culturally relevant.

Grand opening

AgnicoEagle has announced it will be holding its official grand opening for the Meadowbank gold mine near Baker Lake later this month on June 18.

The celebrations are scheduled to be held at the actual Meadowbank site.