LeBleu Pack: Frolicing in the Bay

I really wanted to get this blog entry completed on Monday but foggy, overcast days are not great for satellite internet. After arriving home a week ago last Monday my week turned out to be a great one. Springtime in Cambridge Bay means many things to different people but the three that stick out for me are the arrival of birds, the sun not setting and the annual Cambridge Bay Frolics. The Frolics started on the 14th and ended on Victoria Day.

The crew from Department of Fisheries and Oceans arrived the day after for a meeting and we had them over for dinner the following day. Out of the four of them I had met two, Tyler and Les and it was great to finally meet Theresa and Xinhua who I talked to many times. Marg came over after dinner to join us in some laughs, it was a wonderful evening with friends.

During the Frolics I attended the parade and opening ceremonies on Friday, watched many ski-doo races and the best one was the Elder's race where they hopped onto the little machines that the kids use and away they went. I also finally got to watch our local drum dancers...twice! They do such an amazing job.

There were many highlights during this year's Frolics, one was on Saturday afternoon when the ladies that walked from Bay Chimo to Cambridge Bay arrived home. They left Bay Chimo on May 7th and after 220kms they all arrived home safely. They did this walk to raise money for cancer and to promote a healthy lifestyle and in the end they raised about $80,000. and the money is still coming in. It was an emotional homecoming that day and the next where there was a community celebration.

The next one for me was when our friend Angela received The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for her dedication and fundraising efforts for Cancer Care. Angela does these amazing fundraising events during the year and I can't think of any person that deserves this more than her.

I will keep this entry short as there are many pictures to share with you.

Talk soon!

My friends from DFO having dinner at our place: Tyler, Xinhua, Les, myself, Theresa and Craig

Taken at midnight on May 20, 2012

Taken in the morning on May 21, 2012 - not much difference between the two

Sand cranes arrived

Glaucous gull are back also

Canadian Geese

White fronted goose

Snow bunting on our deck

Local cadets led the way at the parade

Frolics Mascot, Ollie the Omingmak

Kitnuna float

NIRB (Nunavut Impact Review Board) had the best float...dog team

My two buddies for the parade, Abeline & Natella

Crowning of the Princess and Prince

Our Queen Karen and King Koah for the Frolics

The Elders ski-doo race on the little machines

David getting ready to race (he is one of our hunters)

Bessie waving to her fans

and the winner is...Mabel

Lots of racing during the Frolics

The hand-off during the relay

I just love these little machines

My little friend Andrew

Street hockey on the ice

Jessie and Charlie enjoying the day

Cancer Care booth selling muskox and beef burgers

Bo and Ross the chefs for the day

Ella, Steve and Annie

Everyone watching the ladies coming back from Bay Chimo

Women in Action Steps of Hope

Walking onto the bay

Finally made it home

Everyone raising their walking sticks in victory

Edna Elias, our Commissioner being interviewed

Elisabeth looking very tanned

Donna (so happy to be home)

New haircut for my buddy Shawn

The six ladies that walked from Bay Chimo to Cambridge Bay: Janet Brewster, Elisabeth Hadlari, Donna Olsen-Hakongak, Jamie McInnis, CamBay mayor Jeannie Ehaloak and Nunavut Commissioner Edna Elias