In Nunavut, Nunavik, keep safe and have fun on Halloween

Come on in and prepare to be scared: Luukasi Gordon (left) and Kevin Tukkiapik (right) pose near one of the long dark hallways inside the haunted house that they helped make at Kuujjuaq’s Uvikkait Dome Youth centre. Staff created the scary house for people in the community as a lead-up to Halloween, Oct. 31. (PHOTO BY ISABELLE DUBOIS)

Communities in Nunavut and Nunavik are gearing up for the spookiest, sweetest day of year.

Halloween festivities will occur in communities across the North and little trick-or-treaters on the prowl for candy will hit the streets — in most places, anyway.

In Arviat this year, hamlet officials have opted to move Halloween festivities indoors to keep trick-or-treaters safe from the many polar bears that wander through the community at this time of year on their migration North.

Instead, the hamlet and other organizations will host an evening Halloween event Oct. 31 at the Mark Kalluak community hall, with games and activities for the whole family.

While youth in Iqaluit will certainly be on the lookout for sweets, a group of Inuksuk high school students will run a “We Scare Hunger” campaign to collect non-perishable foods for the local food bank.

Students will go door to door Oct. 31 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. asking for donations.

The city’s recreation department is hosting its 25th annual Spook-a-rama youth dance later that evening, a free event for youth ages 13 to 18.

And the Iqaluit Christian Fellowship (building 4123) is hosting a Candy Craze Carnival from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. for families with children up to age 12, another free event offering games and prizes.

The City of Iqaluit is reminding drivers to take extra care when they’re out on Halloween night.

The city is making some adjustments to local traffic Oct. 31. From 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Tasilik Street will become one way from #2726, along with Imiqtarviminiq and Anuri Streets in the Road to Nowhere subdivision.

During that time, vehicles should enter Tasilik Street and exit by Road to Nowhere Street.

In an Oct. 20 public service announcement, the Government of Nunavut said young children should always be accompanied by an adult or older youth while out trick-or-treating.

The GN also suggest wearing costumes that have reflectors or carrying a flashlight so vehicles can see you.

If trick-or-treaters are looking for another way to be seen, the bloggers behind the Iqaluit-based Finding True North want to see Nunavut’s best costumes.

They are asking Nunavummiut to share photos of their Halloween costumes on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, using the hashtag #Nunaween.

The website will feature its top picks in a blog post next week.

In the neighbouring region of Nunavik, Kuujjuaq’s Fort Chimo co-operative will stop selling beer and wine at 5 p.m. on Oct. 31, and instead, hand out candy and tickets to win a number of door prizes.

At 7:00 p.m., Kuujjuaq’s Sivurlirtsait Youth Committee is hosting the annual Halloween costume contest at the Kuujjuaq Forum. The committee will hand out prizes for best costume in different age categories, from 0 to 17 years old.

Cirqiniq performers in Kuujjuaq will also host a Halloween-themed circus show Oct. 30 at Jaanimmarik school, starting at 6:30 p.m.