Nunavut family wins mini-shed made from recycled wood

The Cambridge Bay Housing Association held a free draw to give away this homemade mini shed which the association used this year on an Omingmak Frolics float. Pictured here, from left: Allen Lee, CBHA maintenance manager, Christian Christensen, assistant maintenance manager and Megan Mala, maintenance staff. (PHOTO BY KELCEY WRIGHT)

Special to Nunatsiaq News

CAMBRIDGE BAY — There’s at least one family in Cambridge Bay who won’t soon forget the 2015 Omingmak Frolics festival.

That’s because a piece of the parade will sit in their yard for years to come.

Allysha Pikpik Sateana and Jason Tologanak won a free shed recently in a contest held by the Cambridge Bay Housing Association.

“I was excited and surprised to see that I won,” said Pikpik Sateana, who is in Rankin until the end of June. “I will be using it as a playhouse for my children.”

The blue wooden shed was used on the housing association’s “mini-maintenance shop” float earlier in May during the annual Frolics parade.

“We wanted to recycle the excess wood from our sealift crates and be responsible by utilizing these materials, rather than disposing them,” said Allen Lee, the maintenance manager for the CBHA. “We also wanted something that would benefit someone in the community.”

And it was Pikpik Sateana who came out on top and says her two children will have loads of fun playing in the mini playhouse when it’s delivered to her house June 25.

The contest that she won was simple; “like” the photo of the shed that was shared on the western Kitikmeot town’s Facebook page, which has over 2,000 members, “share” it to your own personal page and then comment on the post. Another option for non-Facebook users was to give the CBHA a call to enter your name manually.

The winner was chosen by random draw on May 22.

There were more than 320 likes and 110 comments on the Facebook photo which was posted just three days prior to the draw.

“Very nice of your staff to put this together for a child. Whoever wins will be very lucky,” Koaha Puglik wrote in a Facebook comment.

Another Cambridge Bay resident, Lynette Paddock Holmes, posted, “My kids would love this. They try to build forts all the time.”

It seems this contest, which was free to enter, mirrored the spirit of the annual spring festival.

“What I really like about the Frolics is how it brings everyone together after a long cold winter and how the community welcomes everyone to participate,” Lee said. “I had no expectations as I am enjoying my first year here and learning about the event.”

Lee says the contest was a way to say thanks to Cambridge Bay residents who have generously opened their arms to him, long before the festival even started.

“[Everyone] has been very welcoming since I arrived in Cambridge Bay at the beginning of the year,” said Lee. “This was my way of giving back to the community.”