Nunavut hamlet lures residents off the couch and into the gym

Peter Ohokannoak shoots for a three-pointer on Dec. 2, during a game of recreation basketball in Cambridge Bay. (PHOTO BY KELCEY WRIGHT)

Catherine Pak, one of the organizers for ultimate frisbee in Cambridge Bay, catches a touchdown pass Dec. 1. (PHOTO BY KELCEY WRIGHT)

Special to Nunatsiaq News

CAMBRIDGE BAY — You have to work hard to become bored in Cambridge Bay this year.

With more than 16 various recreational activities open to the public, the western Nunavut town hosts the greatest number of sports programs in the entire Kitikmeot region.

“We’re very privileged here,” said Fred Muise, the hamlet’s recreation co-ordinator. “We have a great group of volunteers who find sports that people like and volunteer to run them.”

Sports include ultimate frisbee, badminton, yoga, table tennis, soccer, hockey, curling and many more. There are also cultural activities such as square dancing and drum dancing.

One of the most popular recreational sports offered: basketball. Players play for free on Tuesday and Thursday nights.

“The only thing you need to do is throw a pair of shoes on to play,” said Peter Ohokannoak, one of the basketball organizers. “A majority of the people played high school basketball or are friends with someone who played. I think [the popularity] originates from the Wolverine program.”

Because adult recreational basketball’s attendance tops 40 people on any given night, kids’ basketball has also started up this year on Saturdays for anyone under the age of 16.

Kids’ basketball is a drop-in style program for children who don’t play competitively with the Cambridge Bay Wolverine’s club.

But young people have more than basketball to choose from in Cambridge Bay. They can play soccer — and there’s also an open gym slot to give youth something to do on weekends.

“We all realize we’re a small community and we need to come together and help get all these sports going for everybody,” said Muise, who has served as the recreation co-ordinator in Cambridge Bay for more than four years.

But because of the rapid growth and popularity of public sports in Cambridge Bay, the town has run into one major snag.

“The big thing is [that] we need more space,” said Muise. “It’s a good problem to have though. It means that we are maximizing our space right now.”

That’s why for the last two years, the recreation department of the Cambridge Bay hamlet has been fundraising to eventually build a multi-use facility in the western Nunavut town.

So far, they have raised almost $119,000 to put toward the facility, but Muise says a lot more needs to happen before the centre can be built.

Until the multi-use facility is built, the elementary and high school gyms will continue to host 90 percent of recreational sports in town.

Even though the community is running out of room and time to host all the activities now available, they’re always open to entertaining new ideas.

If you want to volunteer and start up another sport, contact Muise at the hamlet office and he’ll help any way he can.

Or if you just want to get out of the house and get some exercise, there are plenty of ways to do that.

“Come out and get involved,” said Muise. “Take advantage of what the community has to offer. Come have some fun.”